MECCA: Mecca authorities have been using 54,000 litres of disinfectants per day to sanitise the holy Grand Mosque during this year’s Haj season as a precautionary measure against the spread of coronavirus, according to officials.
The General Presidency of the Grand Mosque and the Prophet’s Mosque said that cleaning operations were carried out by 3,500 workers during the past several days who sanitised the inner and outer courtyards of the Grand Mosque up to 10 times a day.
This year’s pilgrimage was downsized to 10,000 pilgrims residing inside the kingdom due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
Pilgrims in Saudi Arabia have been performing symbolic stoning of the devil since Friday, one of the final rites of the sacred pilgrimage every able-bodied Muslim must undertake at least once in their lifetime.
This year’s Haj has been marked by precautionary and preventative measures amid the pandemic, including the maintaining of social distancing measures throughout the rituals.