Cairo: Saudi authorities have designated 18 tracks for worshippers to circumambulate the holy Kaaba in the Grand Mosque in Mecca to cope with an increase of visitors and curb the spread of COVID-19, an official has said.
Saudi Arabia has increased capacity of the Grand Mosque in the holy month of Ramadan to reach 50,000 Umrah pilgrims and 100,000 worshippers per day. Ramadan is usually a peak season for the Umrah or minor pilgrimage.
Fourteen circumambulation tracks are designated in the courtyard of the mosque around the Kaaba with marked signs on the floor to ensure physical distancing during the ritual. The four others are designated on the first floor of the mosque to be used when the need arises.