Pilgrims arriving at the holy sites in Makkah will have a unique experience of the Hajj this year.
Places that are usually crowded with people are almost empty and those who do attend must maintain strict social distancing in line with regulations to prevent the spread of Covid-19.
Protocols introduced this year were outlined to The National by Hamed Al Atebi, an official from the Makkah Health Authority.
Mr Al Atebi said this year's plan was divided into three phases: the days leading up to the ritual on Wednesday, the pilgrims' journey and the period after Hajj.
On an ordinary year, the Hajj draws up to three million visitors but this year the number of pilgrims has been capped to under 10,000 Saudi residents, to contain the outbreak.
“All those selected for this year’s Hajj have no underlying health conditions, are between the ages of 20 and 60, and all tested negative for Covid-19," Mr Al Atebi said.
During the pre-Hajj phase of the plan, pilgrims were quarantined in their homes.
On arrival in Makkah on the fourth day of Dhu Al Hijja, they were screened and remained in isolation in a hotel until the start of their Hajj journey today.
Electronic bracelets were distributed on arrival to ensure isolation was maintained.
“Every single person working in Hajj who will be in direct contact with the pilgrims, such as the health leaders, are in isolation for these days,” Mr Al Atebi said.
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Men wearing protective face masks stand as they work on raising the Kiswa, a silk cloth covering the Holy Kaaba, before the annual pilgrimage season, at the Grand Mosque in Mecca, Saudi Arabia. REUTERS -
A security man checks the temperature of a worker as they work on raising the Kiswa, a silk cloth covering the Holy Kaaba, before the annual pilgrimage season, at the Grand Mosque in Mecca, Saudi Arabia. REUTERS -
Workers wearing protective face masks work on raising the Kiswa, a silk cloth covering the Holy Kaaba, before the annual pilgrimage season, at the Grand Mosque in Mecca, Saudi Arabia. REUTERS -
The President of the Haramain Sheikh Abdul Rehman Al Sudais inspects the King Abdulaziz Gate at the Grand Mosque. SPA -
Saudi officials and workers pose for a photo after inspections ahead of Hajj. SPA -
The King Abdulaziz Gate at the Grand Mosque in Makkah. SPA -
The Minister of Hajj and Umrah inspects the equipment prepared for the service of pilgrims this year -
the Minister of Hajj and Umrah inspects the equipment prepared for the service of pilgrims this year -
The Minister of Hajj and Umrah inspects the equipment prepared for the service of pilgrims this year -
A few worshippers performing the fajr prayer at the Grand Mosque in Makkah. Saudi Arabia has announced it will hold a "very limited" Hajj this year. AFP -
Saudi Arabia's authorities said only a limited number of people, who are already in Saudi Arabia, will be able to perform the Hajj amid a spike of cases and deaths in the kingdom. AFP -
Arab countries have expressed their support for Saudi Arabia's decision to ban pilgrims from abroad attending the Hajj pilgrimage this year to stem the spread of the coronavirus pandemic. AFP -
Arafat mountain in Saudi Arabia's holy city of Makkah. Egypt, home of Al Azhar, one of the Muslim world’s main centres of learning, quickly came out in support of the decision. AFP -
Egyptan Religious Affairs Minister Mukhtar Jumah described the downsizing as “practical” and “conforming with jurisprudence regarding the pandemic”. AFP -
Hundreds of thousands usually perform Hajj every year. AFP -
Bahraini Justice and Islamic Affairs Minister Khaled Bin Khalifa said the ban “conforms with the core values of Islam” and that Bahrain appreciates what he described as Saudi Arabia’s quest to save lives. AFP -
The Emirates Hajj Affairs Office said Saudi Arabia's move “preserves the health of the people and their lives, which is one of the main purposes of our honoured religion”. AFP -
Part of the Grand Mosque complex in Saudi Arabia's holy city of Makkah. AFP
During last year’s Hajj, health workers were posted at eight hospitals and 93 clinics in the holy sites around Makkah.
During the five or six-day period of the Hajj, hospitals will be fully prepared to cater for the pilgrims.
There will be mobile clinics, which act as full-service health centres, and mobile hospitals with intensive-care beds.
“These mobile hospitals will accompany the pilgrims during the performance of the rituals as they move from Mina, Arafat and Muzdalifah then back to Mina," Mr Al Atebi said.
This year’s pilgrims were instructed on the guidelines for Hajj 2020 during a health awareness session over Zoom on Sunday.
Each group will be assigned a health leader to accompany them round the clock to assist with health needs and ensure pilgrims are aware of the precautions and regulations in place.
Medical equipment has been placed in accommodations and thermal cameras and triage teams are ready at every point of arrival throughout the journey.
If a pilgrim shows symptoms of Covid-19, they will immediately be isolated to ensure the rest of the group can continue safely.
One of the most important parts of the ritual is Waqfat Arafat, which takes place on Thursday, in which the pilgrim must stay at the holy site from dawn to sunset.
If a pilgrim misses this, their Hajj is not recognised.
“We prepared the seasonal hospital in Arafat only for confirmed Covid-19 cases, to be able to facilitate their Hajj,” Mr Al Atebi said.
Groups will enter the holy sites at different times to ensure social distancing can be maintained.
They will be urged to wash their hands regularly throughout and masks must be worn at all times.
At the end of the Hajj, the pilgrims will go into isolation for seven days before returning to their homes across Saudi Arabia.
