PHOTO
Muslim pilgrims maintain social distancing as they circle the Kaaba at the Grand mosque during the annual Haj pilgrimage amid the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, in the holy city of Mecca, Saudi Arabia July 29, 2020. Saudi Ministry of Media/Handout via REUTERS Image used for illustrator purpose
In an unprecedented move, Saudi Arabia's Ministry of Health has assigned a health leader for every 50 pilgrims during this year's exceptional Haj to ensure the implementation of all preventive measures to curb the spread of the coronavirus.
The Saudi Press Agency (Spa) on Tuesday carried a statement from the ministry in which it said the health leader will be in charge of ensuring that his team members are adhering to precautionary and preventive measures outlined by the authority, including social distancing and the movement between sacred places, for their safety and comfort.
The health leader will be a qualified medical practitioner who will perform visual screening, fill out the follow-up precautionary form inside the pilgrims' bus, monitor the commitment of pilgrims to preventive and precautionary measures, and report any suspected cases of Covid-19.
About 1,000 pilgrims have converged on the Mina Valley outside Makkah on today to begin their spiritual journey of a lifetime.The Day of Tarwiyah (fetching water) marks the beginning of Haj and pilgrims will spend their time praying and reflecting until sunrise on
Meanwhile, the General Presidency for the Affairs of the Grand Mosque and the Prophet's Mosque has prepared prayer rugs for pilgrims, as part of the eighth "We are proud to serve pilgrims and visitors" campaign.
The pilgrims will receive the prayer rugs in closed and sterilised bags.
Spa said this comes as an extension of services being provided for pilgrims, emanating from the responsibility of the General Presidency for the Affairs of the Grand Mosque and the Prophet's Mosque.
It also comes as a continuation of applying the highest precautionary standards and preventive measures to protect pilgrims from the coronavirus.
The official spokesperson for Haj public security has called on all citizens and residents to abide by Haj instructions, confirming that security men gave imposed a tight security cordon around holy sites to implement instructions and control their violators.
The spokesman revealed early on Wednesday that 244 violators of instructions have been seized, whereby evidence proved that they were preparing to infiltrate the holy sites to perform the pilgrimage illegally.
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