3 November 2020 at 02:54
PHASE 3 OF UMRAH RESUMPTION: PARTICIPATION INCREASED TO 20,000 UMRAH PILGRIMS AND 60,000 WORSHIPERS
According to a news Published by Ramadan Al Sherbini, on November 01, 2020, as many as 20,000 Ummah pilgrims and 60,000 worshipers are allowed to Grand Mosque.
On 8th October, 2020 when Saudi upgraded to the second phase of their umrah resumption plan with 40,000 worshippers and 15,000 pilgrims per day into the Grand Mosque. In phase three however, the number has increased by including 10,000 international pilgrims
The first flight carrying foreign pilgrims from Pakistan landed at the King Abdul-Aziz Airport in the Saudi city of Jeddah at 4pm, as reported by Saudi newspaper Okaz. The second flight arrived at 4.30pm from Indonesia at the same airport.
“All health precautions are in place,” head of the airport Essam Fouad said, referring to measures against the spread of the new coronavirus.
Saudi Arabia Employ More Measures To Avoid Covid-19 Spread As It Migrates Into The Third Phase Of The Four-Phase Umrah Resumption Plan.
In late 2019 corona virus outbreak distablized the activities of countries in the world including Saudi Arabia. This virus compiled Saudi authorities suspend the Umrah in March and significantly downsized July's Hajj pilgrimage, before announcing a gradual restart of Umrah earlier October. Covid-19 is still with us. Though the virus has subsided in most countries, there has been reports of a new wave of the virus causing more damaging effects in some countries across the world.
Saudi Arabia government is not oblivious of the existence of covid-19 and the fact that a wave of the virus is moving across the world and so, Saudi media reported that Saudi authorities have put in addition, the following measures to prevent the spread of coronavirus as they upgrade umrah participation to include international Pilgrims; limiting the ritual to Muslims aged between 18 to 50 years.
The eligible pilgrims are required to show a test result conducted 72 hours at most before arrival proving they are free of COVID-19.
Muslims, coming from abroad to the kingdom to perform the Umrah, are allowed a 10-day stay
SAUDI ARABIA BEGINS PHASE 3 OF ITS FOUR-PHASE UMRAH RESUMPTION PLAN.
Saudi authorities suspended umrah service in March after covid-19 laid its devastating hands on the world but later came out with a gradual resumption of umrah earlier in October. The plan to resume umrah services were put into four phases.
The first phase got off the ground with limited numbers of pilgrims from inside Saudi Arabia amid a raft of precautions against COVID-19. The second went into effect on October 18, allowing about 40,000 worshippers and 15,000 pilgrims per day into the Grand Mosque. The third stage for foreign pilgrims, which began 1st November 2, 2020, Sunday, was implemented amid strict health measures including limiting the ritual to Muslims aged between 18 to 50 years. According to news cited on ministry hajj and umrah website, as many as 20,000 Umrah pilgrims and 60,000 worshipers including both citizens of the country and foreign citizens will be allowed to Grand Mosque in this third phase. The news further stated that the number of pilgrims will include 10,000 international pilgrims.
The eligible pilgrims are required to show a test result conducted 72 hours at most before arrival proving they are free of COVID-19.
UMRAH SERVICES OPENED TO INTERNATIONAL PILIGRIMS
Saudi Arabia will allow people from outside the kingdom to perform the Islamic Umrah pilgrimage from 1 November as part of a phased resumption, providing a boost to subdued transport fuel demand in the country.
Saudi authorities suspended the Umrah in March and significantly downsized July's Hajj pilgrimage in response to the Covid-19 outbreak, before announcing a gradual restart of Umrah earlier october.
According to a document Saudi ministry of hajj and umrah portal, it is stated that, from the start of November, the kingdom will allow pilgrims travelling from both inside and outside the country to perform the ritual at full capacity. This amounts to 20,000 pilgrims and 60,000 worshipers a day. Only pilgrims between 18-50 years of age will be allowed to travel from abroad for Umrah, and they will have to provide a negative Covid-19 test upon arrival in the country. All pilgrims coming from abroad will need to self-quarantine for three days. The authorities said they have co-ordinated with state-owned Saudi Arabian Airlines to provide the necessary seat capacity for pilgrims arriving from abroad.