Thousands of Muslims who hoped to perform Umrah in Mecca will have to postpone their pilgrimage because of coronavirus. Saudi Arabia has indeed decided to suspend entries to holy places in order to avoid an epidemic. While believers are worried and masquerading on the spot, the capacity of the Kingdom to welcome the faithful during Ramadan at the end of April is questioned.
Nationals of the countries affected by Covid-19 are the main targets of Saudi restriction measures. Their visas are temporarily refused and they are unable to join the Kaaba, a cube-shaped structure to which 1.8 billion Muslims around the world pray five times a day.
The Middle East has more than 240 confirmed cases of Covid-19. More recently, Saudi Arabia has faced the danger of another coronavirus, MERS, which has passed from sick camels to humans. The kingdom increased its public health measures during pilgrimages in 2012 and 2013, successfully limiting the number of infections.
