RIYADH, Jul 18 (NNN-SPA) – The first batch of pilgrims arrived yesterday, at the Grand Mosque in Mecca, to perform their first ritual for this year’s Hajj.
The ritual was performed with huge preparations and precautionary measures against COVID-19, and there are different locations that can accommodate 11,000 pilgrims in total, according to the General Presidency for Affairs of the Two Holy Mosques and the director of crowd management at the Grand Mosque.
More than 500 employees have been called in, to receive the pilgrims since early morning, said the director, Osama bin Mansour Al-Hujaili.
It is the second consecutive Hajj, limited to domestic pilgrims only and others who are already in Mecca, in an attempt to prevent the outbreak of COVID-19.
About 60,000 Muslims, selected by the authorities from 558,000 registered ones, will be allowed to take part in the 2021 Hajj season, while the number was 2.5 million in 2019.
