Saudi Arabia suspends entry to holy sites for umrah pilgrims

Riyadh: Saudi Arabia has suspended visas for visits to Islam’s holiest sites for the umrah pilgrimage, an unprecedented move triggered by Covid-19 fears that raises questions over the haj, which starts in July.

The kingdom, which hosts millions of pilgrims every year in the cities of Mecca and Medina, also suspended visas for tourists from countries with reported infections as fears of a pandemic deepen.Saudi Arabia, which so far has reported no cases of the virus but has expressed alarm over its spread in neighbouring countries, said the suspensions were temporary.