Despite Covid-19 threat, thousands of Muslim pilgrims gather in Indonesia

JAKARTA/KUALA LUMPUR (Reuters) Thousands of Muslim pilgrims from across Asia gathered in Indonesia on Wednesday (March 18), despite fears that their meeting could fuel the spread of a coronavirus, just two weeks after a similar event in Malaysia caused more than 500 infections.

Organisers and regional officials said the event in the world's fourth most populous nation had begun, although the regional police chief said he was making a last ditch-effort to persuade organisers to call it off.