RIYADH: The Saudi government is considering to cancel the Hajj pilgrimage for the first time since 1932, when the kingdom was founded, due to rising number of coronavirus infections.
An official decision in this connection is expected within a week, according to an official of the Hajj and Umrah ministry of the kingdom.
He said that another option on the table is to allow a small number of local pilgrims to perform Hajj, observing safety guidelines.
The virus cases has topped 100,000 in the kingdom.
The annual Islamic ritual attracts around two million every year.
The Saudi government was expecting about $12 in revenue from the religious pilgrims this year before the Covid-19 struck.
