MAKKAH: Muslims have started congregating at the Grand Mosque to offer Jumma (Friday) prayers following relaxed COVID-19 restrictions made by the Saudi government concerning holy sites.
Sheikh Abdul Rahman Al-Sudais, head of the Haramain Sharifain, has told the authorities to guarantee proper arrangements for the faithful visiting. The mosque administration also revealed that 50 additional entrances would be made available for worshippers eager to join the Friday prayer. The Grand Mosque’s walkways and courtyards will be frequently sanitised to make sure everything is sterile for worshippers coming in.
Masks are compulsory, alongside thermal cameras that have been installed at numerous locations to highlight any potentially unwell visitors. More than 50,000 ZamZam water bottles will also be provided for worshippers in the Grand Mosque.
The Grand Mosque will be fully operational once again, with the faithful being allowed to worship shoulder-to-shoulder for the first time since the pandemic began. More than 4000 officials have been deployed to maintain the guidelines.
However, visitors must still be fully vaccinated and follow all rules when they are on the premises.