Saudi Arabia to reopen Mecca mosques as cases surpass 150,000

Al-Monitor Staff

Jun 19, 2020

Muslims perform the Friday prayers inside the Masjid Al-Nabawi while practicing social distancing, following the outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), in Madina, Saudi Arabia June 5, 2020. Saudi Press Agency/Handout via REUTERS ATTENTION EDITORS - THIS PICTURE WAS PROVIDED BY A THIRD PARTY. - RC213H9U7LRF — Muslims perform Friday prayers inside the Masjid Al-Nabawi Mosque while practicing social distancing, following the outbreak of the novel coronavirus, in Medina, Saudi Arabia, June 5, 2020. — Saudi Press Agency/REUTERS

Saudi Arabia will allow more than 1,500 mosques to reopen in the holy city of Mecca more than three months after they were closed to congressional prayers.

The Ministry of Islamic Affairs said Friday that personal prayer rugs and social distancing will be required among worshippers. Gulf News reports that volunteers have posted signs on carpets showing the distances that must be kept during prayers.