Mask-clad Muslims circled Islam's holiest site along socially distanced paths today as Saudi authorities partially reopened Mecca for 'umrah' pilgrims amid extensive health precautions after a seven-month coronavirus hiatus.
Thousands of worshippers entered the Grand Mosque in batches to perform the ritual of circling the sacred Kaaba, a cubic structure towards which Muslims around the world pray.
The umrah - a pilgrimage that can be undertaken at any time - usually attracts millions of Muslims from across the globe each year.
It was suspended in March due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Saudi Hajj Minister Mohammad Benten said it will be revived in three phases, with 6,000 pilgrims per day allowed in the first stage to perform the umrah "meticulously and within a specified period of time".
A raft of precautions have been adopted to ward off any outbreaks during the umrah, according to state media.
The revered Black Stone in the eastern corner of the Kaaba - which it is customary but not mandatory to touch during the pilgrimage - will be out of reach, while the Grand Mosque will be sterilised before and after each group of worshippers.
Each group of 20 or 25 pilgrims will be accompanied by a health worker and medical teams will be on the ground in case of an emergency, Mr Benten said.
Under the second stage from 18 October, the number of umrah pilgrims will be increased to 15,000 per day, with a maximum of 40,000 people, including pilgrims and other worshippers, allowed to perform prayers at the mosque.
Visitors from abroad will be permitted in the third stage from 1 November, when capacity will be raised to 20,000 and 60,000, respectively.
The decision to resume the pilgrimage was in response to the "aspirations of Muslims home and abroad" to perform the ritual and visit the holy sites, the interior ministry said last month.
In 2019, 2.5 million pilgrims made the journey to Mecca, Islam's holiest site. This year, numbers were restricted to no more than 10,000.
