Pilgrimage to Mecca: Only vaccinated pilgrims to be allowed to visit

Mecca : Saudi authorities have announced that only vaccinated pilgrims will be allowed to perform the year-round umrah pilgrimage from the start of Ramadan.

According to the new guidelines, people will be considered immune to coronavirus under three categories - those who have received two doses of the vaccine, those administered a single dose at least 14 days prior, and people who have recovered from the infection.

Only the immune people will be allowed to perform umrah, as well as to attend prayers in the Grand Mosque in the holy city of Mecca.

It added that the condition also applies for entry into the Prophet's Mosque in the holy city of Medina.

The new policy will come to effect from the start of Ramadan that begins later this month. 

So far, Saudi Arabia has reported more than 393,000 coronavirus infections and 6,700 deaths from Covid-19.

The kingdom's health ministry said it has administered more than five million coronavirus vaccines, in a country with a population of over 34 million.