No international pilgrim for Hajj; Saudi Arabia to hold Hajj with 'very limited pilgrims from resident nationalities'.

ISLAMABAD -- Saudi Arabia on Monday announced not to allow international pilgrims and hold Hajj this year with 'a very limited number of pilgrims from various nationalities already residing in the Kingdom', owing to the coronavirus pandemic.

'This decision has been taken to ensure Hajj is performed in a safe manner from a public health perspective while observing all preventative measures and the necessary social distancing protocols,' the Saudi Ministry of Hajj and Umrah said in a statement shared on the twitter handle of the Kingdom's Foreign Ministry.

The decision came as an extraordinary measure to protect the people from the risks associated with the coronavirus pandemic.

'THIS DECISION HAS BEEN TAKEN TO ENSURE HAJJ IS PERFORMED IN A SAFE MANNER'

The Hajj Ministry said as the COVID-19 had spread to over 180 countries with seven million cases and half a million deaths, it was important to consider the risks of the disease and the infections spreading in crowded gatherings where it was difficult to maintain safe social distancing.

It mentioned that the top priority of Saudi Arabia was to enable the Muslim pilgrims to perform Hajj and Umrah rites safely and...