Saudi Arabia suspends entry and prayers in courtyards of the Two Holy Mosques
The authorities have suspended the entry and prayer in the outer courtyards of Two Holy Mosques in Makkah and Medina, Saudi Press Agency reported on Friday quoting a statement from the spokesman of the General Presidency of the Grand Mosque and the Prophet’s Affairs.
The temporary suspension, which comes into force on Friday, 20 March, is aimed at combating the coronavirus pandemic.
“The Presidency and the security and health authorities decided to suspend the presence and prayers in the outer squares of the Grand Mosque [Masjid al-Haram] and the Prophet’s Mosque [Masjid al-Nabawi] starting Friday,” the country’s official SPA news agency quoted Hani bin Hosni Haider, a spokesman for the General Presidency of Mecca’s Grand Mosque and the Prophet’s Mosque in Medina.
Earlier, Saudi Arabia suspended congregational prayers in other mosques in the country except for Masjid al-Haram and Masjid al-Nabawi.
The number of confirmed cases of the virus in the country totals 274.
