Saudi authorities have suspended travel to Islam’s holiest sites in Mecca and Medina as the Middle East recorded more than 220 confirmed cases of coronavirus (COVID-19).
The country announced the decision on Thursday just months ahead of the annual Hajj pilgrimage.
This means that pilgrims will be unable to visit the holy city of Mecca where the Kabba, the cube-shaped structure which about 1.8 billion Muslims pray towards five times a day, is located.
It also suspended travel to Prophet Muhammad’s mosque in Medina.
“Saudi Arabia renews its support for all international measures to limit the spread of this virus and urges its citizens to exercise caution before travelling to countries experiencing coronavirus outbreaks,” the Saudi foreign ministry said in a statement.
“We ask God Almighty to spare all humanity from all harm.”
Iran has the record of the most affected country in the Middle East with 19 people dead and 139 confirmed cases.
The virus, first discovered in Wuhan, China, has spread to over 40 countries with over 80,000 confirmed cases and about 3,000 deaths.
