Jakarta (Indonesia Window) – The General Presidency for the Affairs of the Two Holy Mosques has announced completion of all procedures to receive this year’s pilgrims with adherence to health protocols and preventive measures applied at the Two Holy Mosques (the Grand Mosque in Makkah and the Prophet’s Mosque in Madinah), Saudi Press Agency reported.

General Presidency’s spokesperson Hani bin Husni Haidar said that the presidency obliged all its personnel participating in service of pilgrims and worshippers to take the vaccine against COVID-19.

He noted that the Presidency and other stakeholders inside the Two Holy Mosques will be applying preventive measures in a bid to protect the safety of visitors, calling on all to cooperate and commit to whatever preventive procedures and physical distancing orders are issued with the aim of preserving public health and safety.

Earlier on Saturday (June 12), the Saudi government decided to limit the number of this year’s pilgrims to only 60,000 people, including foreigners living in the kingdom.

Before the COVID-19 pandemic hit the globe, the hajj pilgrimage, which is the fifth Pillar of Islam, was participated by at least 2.5 million pilgrims.

The implementation of the pilgrimage is part of Eid al-Adha which is celebrated by all Muslims around the world every 1 Dhul Hijjah, which this year is estimated to fall on  July 20, 2021.

Reporting by Indonesia Window