Saudi Arabia 'bars' workers from performing Hajj pilgrimage rites over Covid-19 fears

Saudi authorities have reportedly barred Hajj workers from performing the upcoming Muslim pilgrimage as part of coronavirus restrictions in the Muslim holy city of Mecca.       

According to sources cited by Saudi news website Sabq, agencies involved in this year's pilgrimage have been asked to enforce the ban on their staff from making the pilgrimage. 

News of the reported restrictions come as Saudi Arabia prepares for the second Hajj of the coronavirus pandemic, which will begin on 17 July.

This year's Hajj will be limited to 60,000 pilgrims in Mecca, which had hosted some 2.5 million pilgrims in 2019 before the global coronavirus outbreak. It will also be limited to those who have been vaccinated and aged under-65 with no chronic illnesses.

Foreign pilgrims will also be barred from participating for the second consecutive year.

In preparation for the Hajj, Saudi Arabia has recruited some 5,000 workers to sterilise the Grand Mosque of Mecca ten times per day. The sterilisation effort will involve the use of more than 60,000 litres of disinfectant, as well as state-of-the-art cleaning technologies.