HAJJ 2021: PILGRIMS MUST HAVE TAKEN TWO DOSES OF COVID19 VACCINATION – SAUDI ARABIA HEALTH MINISTRY

The Saudi Arabia Ministry of Health has announced that intending pilgrims for Hajj 2021 from outside the Kingdom are required to have received two doses of WHO-approved vaccine for COVID-19.

The pilgrims must have received the second dose of the vaccine before arriving in the Kingdom one week before Hajj.

The Hujjaj will also need to obtain a certified and negative test of the COVID-19 PCR test, 72 hours before their arrival in the Kingdom.

The Ministry will also require all pilgrims to be subjected to a 72 hours of Mandatory Quarantine, which will only end after a negative PCR test.

In the Hajj 1442 (2021) Health Control Plan, the Ministry noted the need for all pilgrims and workers to wear tags and to ensure approved housing and mobility of at least one and a half meters between one pilgrim and the other, as well as scheduling the flow of pilgrims into groups, so that only 100 pilgrims per group would be allowed for the various rites of Hajj

The Ministry has also directed that the most vulnerable age groups be excluded from Hajj pilgrimage and as such, only persons within the age range of 18 to 60 years old will be allowed.

As at date, Saudi Arabia has had a total of 414,219 total cases of COVID19 with 6,922 deaths.