Saudi Arabia has banned travel to Islam’s most revered site just months before the annual Hajj pilgrimage, as measures were put in place to try to prevent the spread of Coronavirus into the kingdom.
The decision stops foreigners from reaching the holy city of Mecca and the Kaaba, the cube-shaped structure the world’s 1.8 billion Muslims pray toward five times a day.
The move comes as the COVID-19 illness continues to spread around the globe, with the first case announced in Latin America, on Wednesday, with the confirmation a Brazilian man had contracted the illness.
Italy, seen as a source of transmissions in Europe and beyond, continues to see its case numbers rise, with more than 450 cases confirmed.
The EU’s health commissioner warned Europe must not “give in to panic”. Yesterday Greece joined a host of other EU states to have confirmed cases within its borders.
While the vast majority of cases and deaths are in mainland China, World Health Organisation (WHO) chief Tedros Ghebreyesus, said the number of new COVID-19 cases around the world on Tuesday was 427 compared to 411 inside China, the first time more new cases were confirmed in a day outside of China. The virus has now reached every continent except Antarctica.
Scientists warn about heatwaves becoming the norm and start developing tools to help urban areas to adapt.
President Donald Trump declared that the US was “very, very ready” for whatever threat the coronavirus brings. There are at least 60 cases there.
“This is a situation of concern but we must not give in to panic,” Stella Kyriakides, the EU’s health commissioner, said in Rome on Wednesday.
“We must also be vigilant when it comes to misinformation and disinformation as well as xenophobic statements which are misleading citizens and putting in question the work of public authorities.”
The Greek health ministry said a 38-year-old woman in Thessaloniki, who had recently travelled to Italy, tested positive for the virus. People who came in contact with her are voluntarily entering quarantine.
In France, the French health ministry said a 60-year-old local man had died overnight on Tuesday, becoming the first French citizen to die. Previously, an 80-year-old Chinese tourist had died in Paris.
Meanwhile, a COVID-19 patient was reported to be in critical condition in Germany, and authorities in Austria placed an apartment complex in the southern town of Bad Kleinkirchheim under quarantine after the death overnight of a 56-year-old woman from northern Italy.
It also said travel was suspended to Prophet Muhammad’s mosque in Medina.
Disease outbreaks have always been a concern on the hajj pilgrimage, with peopl travelling from all over the world to complete the walk which is compulsory for able-bodied Muslims.
Saudi Arabia has taken the measure as its neighbours deal with their own cases of coronavirus.
Bahrain confirmed 33 cases as of Thursday morning, while Iran’s president insisted there were no immediate plans to quarantine cities as authorities try to get a handle on the spread of the virus in a country which has so far seen 19 deaths. There are also confirmed cases in neighbouring Oman, Iraq, Kuwait and the UAE. (euronews)
