From the Liveblog of
Thursday, March 5, 2020
Saudi Arabia empties Islam’s holiest site for coronavirus ‘sterilization’
Saudi Arabia empties Islam’s holiest site for sterilization over fears of the new coronavirus, an unprecedented move after the kingdom suspended the year-round umrah pilgrimage.
State television relays stunning images of an empty white-tiled area surrounding the Kaaba -– a large black cube structure inside Mecca’s Grand Mosque, which is usually packed with tens of thousands of pilgrims.
The move was a “temporary preventive measure” but the upper floors of the Grand Mosque were still open for prayers, a Saudi official tells AFP.
He calls the measure “unprecedented.”
On Wednesday, the kingdom halted the umrah pilgrimage for its own citizens and residents.
The move came after authorities last week suspended visas for the umrah and barred citizens from the six-nation Gulf Cooperation Council from entering Mecca and Medina.
Photos shared on social media also appear to show Waqf officials disinfecting the Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem.
משבר הקורונה: אנשי הוואקף בירושלים מחטים את מקומות התפילה במסגד אלאקסא מחשש להתפשטות וירוס הקורונה במהלך השתתפות אלפים מחר בתפילת השישי pic.twitter.com/LOW2KTwLJS
— sami abdulhamid سامي عبد الحميد (@samiaah10) March 5, 2020
— With AFP
The Times of Israel Community.