Saudi Arabia suspends Umrah entry over coronavirus fears

shaheennews

Saudi Arabia announced early Thursday it has temporarily suspended entry into the country for Muslims seeking to perform Umrah, due to fears over the spread of the deadly novel coronavirus.

Citing the country’s Foreign Ministry, the official Saudi news agency reported that the suspension also applies to those seeking to visit the Prophet’s Mosque in Madinah.

“It is one of a number of precautionary restrictions as Saudi health authorities closely monitor the spread of the virus,” a statement by the Ministry said, adding that tourist-visa holders, from countries judged to pose a particularly high risk of spreading the virus, will also be denied entry.

//Petra//