Saudi Arabia suspends entry for Umrah, visits to Al Masjid Al Nabawy over Covid-19 concerns

A file photo dated Aug 8, 2019 of Muslims praying at the Grand Mosque during the annual Hajj pilgrimage in their holy city of Mecca, Saudi Arabia. - Reuters

CAIRO (Reuters): Saudi Arabia temporarily suspended entry to the kingdom for the Umrah Islamic pilgrimage and visits to Al-Masjid an-Nabawi in Medina, its ministry of foreign affairs announced on Twitter on Thursday (Feb 27), amid fears over the spread of the coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2).

The kingdom has also suspended entry to Saudi Arabia for anyone with tourism visas from countries where the Covid-19 disease is a threat. The Foreign Ministry called on citizens not to travel to countries where the Covid-19 is spreading. – Reuters