Saudi Arabia suspends Umrah pilgrimage over coronavirus fears

Saudi Arabia suspended Umrah pilgrimages to the two Holy cities of Makkah and Medina for Saudi citizens and the kingdom's other residents due to coronavirus concerns, state news agency SPA reported on Wednesday.

Saudi Arabia reported its first case of the new coronavirus on Monday from an individual who had not disclosed his visit to Iran when entering Saudi Arabia.

Cleaners wear protective face masks, following the outbreak of the coronavirus, as they swipe the floor at the Kaaba in the Grand Mosque on Tuesday. Reuters

"Based on the recommendations of the committee appointed to monitor coronavirus...it has been decided to suspend Umrah for citizens and residents in the kingdom," SPA said, citing an official source in the Saudi interior ministry.

The decision will be reviewed regularly and reversed when the situation changes, it added.

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They were also barred from "visits to the Prophet's mosque in Medina," according to a foreign ministry tweet.

A Muslim prays from a hotel overlooking the Holy Kaaba on Wednesday. AP

Saudi Arabia last week halted Umrah visas for foreigners and banned Gulf citizens from visiting the two cities because of the virus.

It also banned tourists from at least 25 countries where the virus has been found, and on Tuesday it limited arrivals of travellers from the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries.

Agencies