Saudi Arabia again imposed physical distancing measures on Thursday, December 30, at the Grand Mosque in Mecca, Islam’s holiest city, due to an epidemic rebound in the kingdom that hosted millions of pilgrims before the pandemic.
Read alsoCoronavirus: Mecca, hotbed of infection in Saudi Arabia
Already in force in the past, this measure was lifted in October thanks to a drop in Covid-19 infections. But the daily number of contaminations has multiplied by more than 20 since the beginning of December, with 744 cases Wednesday, in the rich oil state of the Gulf.
New restrictions
“The decision to reapply physical distancing on Thursday (…) stems from the concern to protect the health of the faithfulยป, Indicated the official press agency SPA. Distancing signs have been placed in the grounds of the Great Mosque around the Kaaba, a cubic structure covered in black and to which the Muslim faithful around the world turn to pray.
Mecca welcomed millions of worshipers before the onset of the global health crisis at the end of 2019. Several restrictions limiting access to the Grand Mosque were then imposed before being gradually relaxed in recent months, especially for vaccinated pilgrims. In normal times, the pilgrimages bring in some 12 billion dollars (10.6 billion euros) per year to Saudi Arabia, which tries to diversify its economy very dependent on oil.
Read alsoImmune pilgrims travel to Mecca on the first day of Ramadan
The Arab Gulf countries are all experiencing an epidemic outbreak, with Qatar suspending leave for health workers in public hospitals. Despite one of the highest vaccination rates in the world, the UAE has a daily number of infections 30 times higher than in early December. The New Year’s celebrations have not been canceled in Dubai, the major tourist destination in this federal state, however.