The Saudi Royal Family are currently considering cancelling the hajj pilgrimage for the first time in the history of the Saudi Kingdom, following a recent spike in cases of coronavirus. The current total of infected has surpassed 100,000. A Senior official from the Hajj and Umrah ministry explained to the Saudi Press Agency that a full analysis of the situation is currently underway, and that a final decision will be made within the week. Hajj takes place in July and can attract up to two million people to Mecca from around the world.
A number of other high profile events have been cancelled around the world, including music festivals and the Olympic Games, Saudi officials have been waiting to see how the pandemic played out but are now facing a difficult decision in the wake of a recent spike in new infections.
Government officials have already enforced a number of restrictions around prayer and mosque visits, and took the action of closing a number of mosques that had broke regulations around social distancing.
