Saudi Arabia forces mask use during Hagi

Muslim pilgrims in Haxhini this year must wear masks on their faces at all times, Saudi authorities announced today, while employees will make sure that there are no overloads or gatherings on pilgrimage, which, in normal times, bring together more than two million people.

Saudi Arabia has drastically lowered pilgrimage this year, in the middle of the Coronavirus pandemic, saying that only the thousands already living within the kingdom can carry out Haxhi, which will begin in late July.

Saudi Arabia has banned pilgrims from outside the kingdom this year in an effort to limit the spread of COVID-19.

Although the kingdom has removed its strict statehood for weeks and most of its restrictions, international flights remain suspended.

The Kingdom has the largest number of confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the Arab world, with more than 213,000 infections and more than 1,900 victims. /Attish