According to the announcement of the Saudi Arabian National Center for Disease Control, this year's pilgrims will be prohibited from touching the Kaaba (the stone block in the center of the Masjid al-Haram mosque), and must ensure physical distancing of at least 1.5 meters during religious rituals such as mass prayer or walking around the Kaaba.
The Kaaba, which is always crowded with worshippers, has become deserted during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Last month, Saudi Arabia announced it would limit the number of local pilgrims to about 1,000, while Muslims from outside the country will not be granted hajj visas this year. The majority of the hajj slots will be reserved for foreigners living and working in Saudi Arabia (70%), while the rest will be reserved for Saudi nationals. All applicants must meet strict criteria such as being between 20 and 50 years old, never having performed the hajj before, having a certificate that they are free of Covid-19 and chronic diseases.
As of July 7, Saudi Arabia has recorded 217,108 cases of Covid-19, including 2,017 deaths.
