Jakarta (Indonesia Window) - Five Indonesian citizens have been registered as the number of this year’s pilgrims are limited only to 10,000 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

A statement from the Indonesian Consulate General in Jeddah mentioned that data received as of July 25, 2020 showed five Indonesian citizens were registered as the 1441 Hijri/2020 hajj pilgrims.

The five Indonesians are among the 70 percent of foreigners who live in the kingdom of 10,000 pilgrims who are allowed to perform the hajj rituals this year.

Meanwhile, 30 percent of the pilgrims are Saudi nationals, especially those who work in the fields of health and safety.

Earlier, the Saudi Ministry of Hajj and Umrah opened online hajj registration via its website with a number of requirements relating to the health conditions of prospective pilgrims. One of which is the applicant's age should not exceed 65 years.

This year's hajj is held with very strict health protocols, including when pilgrims perform all hajj rituals.

They must keep a distance of at least 1.5 meters between each other during tawaf (circumambulating the Kaaba seven times), sa'i (running between Shafa and Marwah seven times), wuquf (silence while praying) at Arafat, overnight at Muzdalifah, and throwing jumroh stones at Mina.

All pilgrims and hajj officials are also required to wear health masks and dispose of in special places that have been provided.

The holy sites are always cleaned and sterilized by the workers before the pilgrims arrive to perform the worships.

Reporting by Indonesia Window