The General Presidency for the affairs of the Grand Mosque and the Prophet’s Mosque issues a number of decisions to prevent the spread of the Corona virus

The General Presidency for the Sacred Mosque and the Prophet’s Mosque decided to close the Two Holy Mosques an hour after the evening prayer, and to reopen them an hour before Fajr, to prevent the spread of the Corona virus.

The General Presidency also decided to close the courtyard around the Kaaba, and the endeavor between Safa and Marwah throughout the period of suspension of Umrah, as the prayer will be inside the mosque only.

An official source at the General Presidency for the Affairs of the Grand Mosque and the Prophet’s Mosque, in a statement quoted by the Saudi Press Agency “SPA”, said that these decisions were taken “according to the precautionary health measures recommended by the competent authorities, and the importance of maintaining the cleanliness of the Two Holy Mosques to prevent the spread of infection, and the need to intensify the work Cleaning and sterilization in the Two Holy Mosques, and this is in non-prayer times.

The source said that the decision includes temporarily suspending Umrah for citizens, residents, and all residents of the holy city of Makkah, as the forbidden people will not be allowed to enter the Sacred Mosque and the surrounding squares, as it was decided not to allow i'tikaaf and bedding, or to enter food and drinks, and the Zamzam water strips will also be closed.

The source added that the precautionary measures include the closure of the old mosque in the Noble Sanctuary, including the honorable kindergarten, and the closure of the Baqi cemetery.