Saudi Arabia has announced restricting the 2021 Hajj [pilgrimage] to only 60 thousand citizens and residents of the Kingdom.
“The people who wish to perform Hajj must be free of chronic diseases and they must be vaccinated. They must also be between the ages of 18-65.
“Based on what the whole world is witnessing with the coronavirus pandemic and the emergence of new variants, the relevant authorities are monitoring the global health situation,” the BBC quoted the Saudi ministry responsible for pilgrimage as saying in a statement on Saturday.
The fifth pillar of Islam is annually observed in the Kingdom by about 2 million Muslims from all over the world. It starts on the 7th and ends on the 12thDay of Dhu al-Hijjah, the last month of the Islamic calendar.
The move is part of measures put in place by the Kingdom to tackle the spread of Coronavirus after registering beyond 463,000 total confirmed cases with 7, 536 deaths.
Meanwhile, the announcement has shattered the hopes of intending Gambian pilgrims who are this year optimistic to perform Hajj in fulfilment of the fifth pillar of Islam.