Saudi authorities have urged Muslims not to start preparing for the Hajj, which this year starts at the end of July.
Pilgrimage in the context of a global pandemic, as stated by the Minister of Hajj of Saudi Arabia, Muhammad Salih Binten, may not take place.
"Under the current circumstances, we are talking about a global pandemic... The Kingdom wants to protect the health of all Muslims and its citizens, so we have asked our Muslim brothers in all countries to hold off on agreements until the situation becomes clear," the official was quoted as saying by Interfax.
Binten also stressed that Saudi Arabia is fully prepared for the arrival of pilgrims.
Earlier, Umra was banned, and mosques were closed in Saudi Arabia.
In the Kingdom to date, about 1.5 thousand cases of coronavirus have been identified, and ten people died.
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