Limited Umrah pilgrimage resumes after coronavirus hiatus

Saudi authorities have partially resumed the year-round Umrah pilgrimage after a seven-month hiatus over the coronavirus pandemic, allowing a limited number of people to perform the rituals in the holy cities of Mecca and Medina with strict observance of health protocols.

Saudi Arabia allowed citizens and residents to start performing Umrah as of October 4 at 30 percent capacity, or 6,000 pilgrims a day, and said the pilgrimage for Muslims from abroad would start on November 1.

SS