Saudi Arabia hails successful Hajj health measures amid COVID concerns

(MENAFN- Kuwait News Agency (KUNA)) RIYADH, July 22 (KUNA) -- Saudi Arabia on Thursday hailed the success of health measures in place amid the annual Hajj season, just as pilgrims gathered for the closing ritual known as farewell circumambulation under strict measures to prevent a COVID outbreak.
The rigid precautions in place for this year's Hajj were instrumental in the pilgrimage's success, state-run SPA news agency cited Health Minister Tawfiq al-Rabiah as saying.
These measures, which include limiting attendance to only 60,000 nationals and expatriates living in the kingdom, helped contain virus transmission during the pilgrimage this year, added the minister.
Just a day earlier, pilgrims performing the Hajj commenced the three-day stone-throwing ritual from dawn to dusk in what is a once in a lifetime obligation for able-bodies Muslims. (end)
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