WHO Welcomes Saudi Decision to Limit Hajj

A customer gets his temperature checked at a cafe in Saudi Arabia. (SPA)
A customer gets his temperature checked at a cafe in Saudi Arabia. (SPA)
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WHO Welcomes Saudi Decision to Limit Hajj

A customer gets his temperature checked at a cafe in Saudi Arabia. (SPA)
A customer gets his temperature checked at a cafe in Saudi Arabia. (SPA)

The World Health Organization (WHO) has welcomed Saudi Arabia’s decision to greatly limit the number of Hajj pilgrims this year over the coronavirus pandemic.

“As some countries start to reopen their societies and economies, the question about how to hold gatherings of large numbers of people safely has become increasingly important,” WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanum, said Wednesday. “This is especially true of one of the world’s largest mass gatherings, the annual Hajj pilgrimage.”

The Kingdom said Monday that a limited number of Saudi citizens and residents would be able to perform the pilgrimage this year.

Speaking in Geneva during the daily coronavirus press conference, Adhanum said the organization supported Saudi Arabia’s decision, adding that all countries must make difficult decisions to put public health at the forefront.

The Saudi Health Ministry said in a daily briefing on the outbreak on Wednesday that failure to adhere to social distancing measures has led to the infection of five families.

A few of the relatives were in critical care, it said.

It said 3,123 virus cases were registered on Wednesday, taking the Kingdom’s tally to 167,267.

Recoveries reached 112,797 after 2,912 more people were declared virus-free.

Forty-one fatalities were reported, taking the toll to 1,387.



Emir of Kuwait, Iranian President Discuss Regional Developments

Emir of Kuwait Sheikh Meshal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah. (KUNA)
Emir of Kuwait Sheikh Meshal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah. (KUNA)
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Emir of Kuwait, Iranian President Discuss Regional Developments

Emir of Kuwait Sheikh Meshal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah. (KUNA)
Emir of Kuwait Sheikh Meshal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah. (KUNA)

Emir of Kuwait Sheikh Meshal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah received on Wednesday a telephone call from Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian on the occasion of the Eid al-Fitr holiday.

They discussed the strong bilateral ties that bind their nations and means to boost them across various fields, reported the Kuwaiti state news agency KUNA.

They also reviewed regional and international developments and issues of common interest.

Sheikh Meshal hailed the enduring ties between Kuwait and Iran, underscoring his keenness on developing them further to achieve more cooperation.

He wished Pezeshkian good health and Iran further progress.