ISLAMABAD: Saudi Arabia has impose a temporary ban on praying in the courtyards of the Grand Mosque in Makkah and the Prophet’s Mosque in Madinah as a precautionary measure to prevent the spread of coronavirus.
According to the Saudi Press Agency (SPA), a spokesman for the General Presidency for the Grand Mosque and the Prophet’s Mosque, Hani Haider, recently called on the public to follow official instructions and “cooperate with the efforts to safeguard the health and safety of pilgrims and worshippers.”
The report noted that the temporary suspension of prayers began on Thursday.
Together, the two mosques hold tremendous significance for Muslims around the world and are mostly crowded by groups of devout individuals from different countries who visit these places as part of their spiritual journey.
As COVID-19 cases began to mount in the Kingdom recently, Saudi Arabia took exceptional measures to enforce social distancing by announcing lockdowns and suspension of international flights.
In a televised speech on Thursday, King Salman expressed his resolve to take all necessary steps to preserve the health of the nation.
“We rely on the resolve of our citizens and residents, their determination and sense of responsibility [to fight coronavirus],” he said while thanking government bodies for working diligently to contain the outbreak.
