Amidst strict sanitary measures due to COVID-19, the great pilgrimage to Mecca has begun

The great annual pilgrimage or “hash” to the Saudi cities of Mecca and Medina began this Sunday amid strict sanitary measures and with the participation of 60,000 faithful residents of the kingdom, rather than the more than two million worshipers who flocked before the pandemic.

Saudi Arabia, which last year only allowed the hajj to 10,000 inhabitants of the kingdom, has decided to increase this number to 60,000 given the progress of the process of vaccination of its population against the covid -19, of some 35 million inhabitants, of those who already more than 50% have received at least one dose of the vaccine.

Pilgrims started arriving today in the Mina Valley, about 6 kilometers from central Mecca, where They will spend the whole day in tents before going up to Mount Arafat tomorrow Monday to perform the main hajj ritual.

Before heading to Mina, worshipers make seven welcoming laps around The Kaaba, the holiest building for Muslims.

Authorities have closed access to Mecca since Friday and only allow those who have permission to access four assembly centers established on the outskirts of the holy city for Muslims, from where they were transferred. in small groups to their accommodation in hotels near the Great Mosque.

The head of the hajj security forces, General Zayed al Tuwan, quoted by local media, warned that Violators will be punished with fines of up to 10,000 riyals ($ 2,656.21) and two weeks in prison.

Similar measures will be applied in Medina, where pilgrims will visit the Prophet Muhammad Mosque from the 23rd after the end of the rituals in Mecca.

Saudi Arabia, What is in its third wave of pandemic with around 1,000 cases per day, is one of the Arab countries most advanced in the vaccination of its population and the authorities claim to have administered more than 22 million doses of vaccines to its population. Saudi Arabia has detected more than 507,000 coronavirus infections and more than 8,000 deaths since the start of the pandemic, among a population of 34 million.

LIMITED EXPOSURE

Those chosen from more than 558,000 candidates must be fully vaccinated against the coronavirus, be between 18 and 65 years old and not have chronic diseases, according to the ministry in charge of the party.

The pilgrims will be divided into groups of 20 “To limit any exposure to this group and prevent the infection from spreading,” the undersecretary of the ministry responsible for Hajj, Mohamed al Bijawi, told reporters.

“Every three hours, 6,000 people come in to perform the tawaaf (one of the Islamic pilgrimage rituals)“Hajj ministry spokesman Hisham al Saeed said. “After each group has left, a disinfection process is carried out.”

“Electronic hash passes” have also been introduced, allowing contactless access to hotels, camps and transport for pilgrims, and robots to distribute holy water. In addition, pilgrims cannot touch the Kaaba.

MAIN CHALLENGE

The Hajj was celebrated last year in its smallest version in modern history, with around 10,000 participants.

No infections were reported and authorities set up mobile clinics and ambulances to care for the pilgrims, who were taken to religious sites in small groups.

The organization of the hajj is a matter of prestige for the Saudi government, whose custody of the holiest places of Islam is its main source of political legitimacy.

But the ban on the participation of overseas pilgrims has caused resentment and disappointment among Muslims around the world, who often save years to attend.

“I was already prepared financially and now it’s the virus that is preventing me,” lamented Amina Gaafar, an Egyptian who had been saving for 30 years to “go to meet God”.

In addition to the sanitary restrictions, the cost of attending the festival this year was $ 3,200.

(with EFE and AFP information)

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