Saudi Arabia will only allow pilgrims who have been vaccinated against the novel coronavirus or have already recovered from the disease to enter the Grand Mosque in Mecca. This was announced by the Saudi Arabia Ministry of Hajj and Umrah.
According to the Saudi authorities permits for Umrah (Islamic pilgrimage to Mecca) as well as to visit the Grand Mosque will be given to those who have received 2 Covid-19 vaccine jabs.
The person should have received the first dose at least 14 days before their visit to Medina and Mecca or to those people who were infected by the virus and recovered.
Before going on a trip to Saudi Arabia, the pilgrim’s vaccination status will have to be registered on Saudi Arabia’s Covid-19 app known as Tawakkalna.
This app was launched by Saudi Arabia last year to track the Covid-19 situation in the country.
The pilgrims, who wish to visit both the mosques or perform Umrah, will have to register via the Tawakkalna app as well as the Umrah app, ‘Eatmarna’. Both the Apps are the only platforms that issue genuine permits for the pilgrimage.
According to Arab news, about 10,000 Grand Mosque workers have already been inoculated as part of the Ramadan operational plan.
5 areas will be available for prayers at the Grand Mosque.
At least 13 million pilgrims wearing masks as well as observing physical distancing rules have visited both the mosques since the seven-month prayer after Umrah suspension was lifted last year in October.
