Saudi Minister: Health Plan for Hajj Was a Success

Neither COVID-19 nor any other epidemic diseases reported among pilgrims. Photo: Bashir Salih
Neither COVID-19 nor any other epidemic diseases reported among pilgrims. Photo: Bashir Salih
TT

Saudi Minister: Health Plan for Hajj Was a Success

Neither COVID-19 nor any other epidemic diseases reported among pilgrims. Photo: Bashir Salih
Neither COVID-19 nor any other epidemic diseases reported among pilgrims. Photo: Bashir Salih

The health plan for this year’s Hajj was a success, with no coronavirus cases detected among pilgrims, Saudi Minister of Health Dr. Tawfiq Al-Rabiah announced on Thursday.

“This Hajj was successful, with neither COVID-19 nor any other epidemic diseases reported,” he said.

Earlier this week, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, the director-general of the World Health Organization, hailed the Saudi leadership on the preventive measures it has taken to protect the pilgrims.

“As the faithful gather to perform Hajj this year, we welcome the public health planning and steps Saudi Arabia has taken to ensure the safety of pilgrims and their communities during the COVID-19 pandemic,” he said in a tweet.

Al-Rabiah said Thursday that all the government agencies serving pilgrims had made great efforts in executing the Hajj health plans to prevent any infections during the Hajj season.

He also thanked Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman for their “unlimited support” to the Ministry of Health and its workers, as well as all government agencies which took part in organizing the Hajj.

This year's Hajj had been limited to 60,000 vaccinated Saudi citizens or residents of Saudi Arabia.



Oman's Sultan to Meet Putin in Moscow on Monday

Sultan Haitham bin Tariq al-Said gives a speech after being sworn in before the royal family council in Muscat, Oman January 11, 2020. REUTERS/Sultan Al Hasani/File Photo
Sultan Haitham bin Tariq al-Said gives a speech after being sworn in before the royal family council in Muscat, Oman January 11, 2020. REUTERS/Sultan Al Hasani/File Photo
TT

Oman's Sultan to Meet Putin in Moscow on Monday

Sultan Haitham bin Tariq al-Said gives a speech after being sworn in before the royal family council in Muscat, Oman January 11, 2020. REUTERS/Sultan Al Hasani/File Photo
Sultan Haitham bin Tariq al-Said gives a speech after being sworn in before the royal family council in Muscat, Oman January 11, 2020. REUTERS/Sultan Al Hasani/File Photo

Oman's Sultan Haitham bin Tariq al-Said is set to visit Moscow on Monday, days after the start of a round of Muscat-mediated nuclear talks between the US and Iran.

The sultan will hold talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday, the Kremlin said, Reuters reported.

Iran and the US started a new round of nuclear talks in Rome on Saturday to resolve their decades-long standoff over Tehran's atomic aims, under the shadow of President Donald Trump's threat to unleash military action if diplomacy fails.

Ahead of Saturday's talks, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi met his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov in Moscow. Following the meeting, Lavrov said Russia was "ready to assist, mediate and play any role that will be beneficial to Iran and the U.S.A."

The sultan's meetings in Moscow visit will focus on cooperation on regional and global issues, the Omani state news agency and the Kremlin said, without providing further detail.

The two leaders are also expected to discuss trade and economic ties, the Kremlin added.