Saudi Mecca Pilgrimage Begins... Only 60,000 Vaccinated Participants Allowed

[Image source=EPA Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Cho Hyun-ui] The largest Islamic religious event, the regular pilgrimage (Hajj), is being held for the second consecutive year on a reduced scale due to the impact of COVID-19.

According to AFP and other sources on the 18th (local time), Saudi Arabian authorities limited this year's Hajj participants to 60,000 vaccinated citizens. Approximately 558,000 vaccinated adults applied online to participate, and only 60,000 were selected through a lottery.

This year's number of pilgrims has increased significantly compared to last year (1,000), but it is still small compared to the usual gathering of over 2.5 million people.

The pilgrims began the pilgrimage on the 17th by performing Tawaf, circling the Kaaba (a cube-shaped structure draped in black cloth) at the center of the Grand Mosque in Mecca. Afterwards, attendees moved to Mina, a massive tent city about 5 km away from the Grand Mosque, where they spent the night.

Saudi health authorities enforced social distancing guidelines to prevent the spread of COVID-19, allowing only half capacity on buses transporting pilgrims. Additionally, 3,000 electric vehicles were provided for the convenience of the elderly and others.

Pilgrims are grouped in fours per tent room, with partitions installed between beds inside the rooms. Authorities also deployed private security personnel in common areas such as cafeterias to prevent crowding.

Since the start of Hajj, there have been no reported cases of COVID-19 infection.

A Saudi Ministry of Hajj official stated, "Pilgrims are monitored for their health status 24 hours a day upon arrival in Mecca," adding, "If an infection occurs, anyone affected will be transferred to isolation facilities."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.