Saudi Arabia explained it was curtailing this year’s hajj pilgrimage to only a little amount of people currently in the kingdom, alternatively than the tens of millions who typically flock to Islam’s holiest web-sites, amid issues about the distribute of the new coronavirus.

The hajj, the Muslim world’s most vital spiritual pilgrimage, is viewed as a pillar of Islam and has been held considering the fact that the seventh century in Mecca. All Muslims who are able to are expected to make the journey at least at the time in their lifetimes.