Saudi Arabia on Thursday suspended entry to its territory to foreigners from countries where the coronavirus epidemic has spread, including those wishing to make the small pilgrimage (Oumra) in Mecca, while the number of contamination outside of China raises fears of a pandemic.
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The Wahhabi kingdom hosts millions of Muslims throughout the year in the holy city of Mecca, with a peak for the great annual Hajj pilgrimage.
In a statement, the foreign ministry said the suspension was temporary, but did not say when the measure would end or the nationalities of the nationals affected by the ban. It was not immediately possible to determine whether Hajj, which is due to start in early July, would be affected. Access to the Medina mosque has also been closed.
No case of contamination has yet been reported in Saudi Arabia, but the coronavirus has spread to several neighboring countries. The ministry said Saudi health officials will determine where the epidemic poses a danger.