Saudi Arabia reopened Saturday the area around the sacred Kaaba in Mecca's Grand Mosque, Islam's holiest site, reversing one of a series of measures introduced to combat the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/tourism-industry-across-the-world-takes-a-hit-as-covid-19-spreads-more-widely-284923">coronavirus</a> outbreak.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/coronavirus-may-cause-61-million-loss-to-pakistan-adb-284934">Also Read:&nbsp;Coronavirus may cause $61 million loss to Pakistan: ADB</a>

Saudi authorities this week suspended the year-round umrah pilgrimage, during which worshippers circle the Kaaba seven times, and also announced the temporary closure of the area around the cube structure.

But King Salman has "allowed for the opening of the Mataf (where people circle the Kaaba) for non-umrah performers" starting on Saturday at dawn, the official Saudi Press Agency (SPA) reported.

Hundreds of Muslims were seen rotating around the Kaaba, but the area between two hills that pilgrims must go between seven times to complete umrah remained closed.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/saudi-arabia-halts-travel-to-mecca-medina-amid-coronavirus-scare-283428">Also Read: Saudi Arabia halts travel to Mecca, Medina amid coronavirus scare</a>

Barricades blocked access to the Kaaba, draped in a gold-embroidered black cloth, while men in green uniforms cleaned the white-tiled floor.

Authorities had emptied the Grand Mosque for sterilisation on Thursday.

The unprecedented suspension of the umrah has raised uncertainty over the annual hajj pilgrimage, scheduled for the end of July.

Authorities have said prayers will be allowed at the Prophet's Mosque in Medina and in Mecca's Grand Mosque while the umrah is suspended, apart from during nighttime cleaning and sterilisation.

The suspension has left thousands of Muslim pilgrims in limbo.

Around two-thirds of the 18.3 million umrah participants in 2018 were citizens and residents of the kingdom, according to government statistics.&nbsp;

On Saturday, SPA said entry into Saudi Arabia from the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait and Bahrain would be "temporarily" restricted to three airports in Riyadh, Jeddah and Dammam.

Only commercial trucks will be allowed to cross by land, it added.

The newly established ministry of sports said it would "suspend public attendance" at all sports events starting Saturday, reflecting calls across the Gulf to cancel mass gatherings.

Some 2.5 million faithful travelled to Saudi Arabia from across the world in 2019 to take part in the hajj, which all Muslims must perform at least once in their lives if able.

The event is a massive logistical challenge for Saudi authorities, with colossal crowds cramming into relatively small holy sites, making attendees vulnerable to contagion.

Already reeling from slumping oil prices, the Saudi kingdom risks losing billions of dollars annually from religious tourism as it tightens access to the sites.&nbsp;

With the number of coronavirus cases in the Gulf region now more than 200, neighbouring Kuwait also announced additional precautionary measures.

It said it would suspend all flights to and from Bangladesh, the Philippines, India, Sri Lanka, Syria, Lebanon and Egypt for a week.

Saudi Arabia reopened Saturday the area around the sacred Kaaba in Mecca's Grand Mosque, Islam's holiest site, reversing one of a series of measures introduced to combat the coronavirus outbreak.

Saudi Arabia reopened Saturday the area around the sacred Kaaba in Mecca's Grand Mosque, Islam's holiest site, reversing one of a series of measures introduced to combat the coronavirus outbreak. Also Read: Coronavirus may cause $61 million loss to Pakistan: ADB Saudi authorities this week suspended the year-round umrah pilgrimage, during which worshippers circle the Kaaba seven times, and also announced the temporary closure of the area around the cube structure. But King Salman has "allowed for the opening of the Mataf (where people circle the Kaaba) for non-umrah performers" starting on Saturday at dawn, the official Saudi Press Agency (SPA) reported. Hundreds of Muslims were seen rotating around the Kaaba, but the area between two hills that pilgrims must go between seven times to complete umrah remained closed. Also Read: Saudi Arabia halts travel to Mecca, Medina amid coronavirus scare Barricades blocked access to the Kaaba, draped in a gold-embroidered black cloth, while men in green uniforms cleaned the white-tiled floor. Authorities had emptied the Grand Mosque for sterilisation on Thursday. The unprecedented suspension of the umrah has raised uncertainty over the annual hajj pilgrimage, scheduled for the end of July. Authorities have said prayers will be allowed at the Prophet's Mosque in Medina and in Mecca's Grand Mosque while the umrah is suspended, apart from during nighttime cleaning and sterilisation. The suspension has left thousands of Muslim pilgrims in limbo. Around two-thirds of the 18.3 million umrah participants in 2018 were citizens and residents of the kingdom, according to government statistics. On Saturday, SPA said entry into Saudi Arabia from the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait and Bahrain would be "temporarily" restricted to three airports in Riyadh, Jeddah and Dammam. Only commercial trucks will be allowed to cross by land, it added. The newly established ministry of sports said it would "suspend public attendance" at all sports events starting Saturday, reflecting calls across the Gulf to cancel mass gatherings. Some 2.5 million faithful travelled to Saudi Arabia from across the world in 2019 to take part in the hajj, which all Muslims must perform at least once in their lives if able. The event is a massive logistical challenge for Saudi authorities, with colossal crowds cramming into relatively small holy sites, making attendees vulnerable to contagion. Already reeling from slumping oil prices, the Saudi kingdom risks losing billions of dollars annually from religious tourism as it tightens access to the sites. With the number of coronavirus cases in the Gulf region now more than 200, neighbouring Kuwait also announced additional precautionary measures. It said it would suspend all flights to and from Bangladesh, the Philippines, India, Sri Lanka, Syria, Lebanon and Egypt for a week.

Saudi Arabia reopens area around Kaaba amid coronavirus measures

Saudi Arabia has stopped excursions to the holy sites of Mecca and Medina over coronavirus epidemic fears. Riyadh issued the ban to halt the spread of the virus.

The rapidly growing number of cases outside China deepened fears of a pandemic.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/coronavirus-severity-shrinks-in-china-as-global-tally-continue-to-rise-282983">Also read: Severity shrinks in China as global tally continue to rise</a>

Saudi Arabia has the two holiest palces of Islam in Mecca and Medina, invites a large number of Muslim pilgrims throughout the year with a peak for the Haj pilgrimage. The Kingdom introduced a new tourism visa last October for 49 nations.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/brazil-confirms-latin-americas-first-coronavirus-case-us-reports-57-cases-282954">Brazil confirms Latin America's first coronavirus case; US reports 57 cases</a>

The foreign ministry of Saudi Arabia said in a statement that the suspensions were transitory however given no period to their expiry. It was indistinct if the haj journey, which is planned to start in late July, would be affected.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/pakistan-confirms-two-coronavirus-cases-no-need-to-panic-says-pak-pm-advisor-282950">Pakistan confirms two coronavirus cases; no need to panic, says Pak PM advisor</a>

The ministry did not specify people from which countries would be impacted but said the kingdom's health authorities would determine where the outbreak constituted a danger.

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/coronavirus-outbreak-what-measures-united-states-is-taking-against-coronavirus-282977/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

Saudi Arabia has had no cases of the coronavirus but it has been spreading in some neighbouring countries.

Meanwhile in China, where 2,744 people have been killed from coronavirus witnessed its lowest single day death toll on Thursday in nearly a month. On Thursday, China's National Health Commission reported 29 deaths.

However, globally, the situation is still grave as number of infected cases other than mainland continue to rise.&nbsp;

Another 334 positive cases were confirmed today in South Korea, taking the total infected tally to 1,595.&nbsp;

On Wednesday, a second death was reported in France while, Brazil, Georgia, Norway and North Macedonia reported their first coronavirus case.&nbsp;

France is on high alert after neighbouring Italy became a hotbed of the virus, where 12 people have been killed, infecting 400 others.&nbsp;

In the United States, 60 positive cases are found 15 detected through the public health system, and 45 repatriated from abroad.&nbsp;

(With inputs from Reuters)

Saudi Arabia has stopped excursions to the holy sites of Mecca and Medina over coronavirus epidemic fears. Riyadh issued the ban to halt the spread of the virus.

Saudi Arabia has stopped excursions to the holy sites of Mecca and Medina over coronavirus epidemic fears. Riyadh issued the ban to halt the spread of the virus. The rapidly growing number of cases outside China deepened fears of a pandemic. Also read: Severity shrinks in China as global tally continue to rise Saudi Arabia has the two holiest palces of Islam in Mecca and Medina, invites a large number of Muslim pilgrims throughout the year with a peak for the Haj pilgrimage. The Kingdom introduced a new tourism visa last October for 49 nations. Also read: Brazil confirms Latin America's first coronavirus case; US reports 57 cases The foreign ministry of Saudi Arabia said in a statement that the suspensions were transitory however given no period to their expiry. It was indistinct if the haj journey, which is planned to start in late July, would be affected. Also read: Pakistan confirms two coronavirus cases; no need to panic, says Pak PM advisor The ministry did not specify people from which countries would be impacted but said the kingdom's health authorities would determine where the outbreak constituted a danger. Saudi Arabia has had no cases of the coronavirus but it has been spreading in some neighbouring countries. Meanwhile in China, where 2,744 people have been killed from coronavirus witnessed its lowest single day death toll on Thursday in nearly a month. On Thursday, China's National Health Commission reported 29 deaths. However, globally, the situation is still grave as number of infected cases other than mainland continue to rise. Another 334 positive cases were confirmed today in South Korea, taking the total infected tally to 1,595. On Wednesday, a second death was reported in France while, Brazil, Georgia, Norway and North Macedonia reported their first coronavirus case. France is on high alert after neighbouring Italy became a hotbed of the virus, where 12 people have been killed, infecting 400 others. In the United States, 60 positive cases are found 15 detected through the public health system, and 45 repatriated from abroad. (With inputs from Reuters)

Saudi Arabia suspends Mecca and Medina's religious trips over coronavirus fears

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Saudi Arabia reopens area around Kaaba amid coronavirus measures

Saudi Arabia suspends Mecca and Medina's religious trips over coronavirus fears