Saudi ministry issues health regulations for pilgrims

The Saudi Ministry of Health (MOH) has reiterated its plea to people above 65 years of age, those with chronic diseases and with immune deficiency, malignancy and terminal illnesses, pregnant women and children under 12 years of age to postpone Haj and Umrah this year for their own safety. The ministry’s advisory comes in the wake of the MERS-coronavirus infection which has claimed the lives of 41 people in the Kingdom so far. Experts are struggling to understand MERS – Middle East Respiratory Syndrome – for which there is still no vaccine. To curb the spread of respiratory infectious disease, the ministry advised all intending pilgrims to comply with common public health guidelines like frequently washing hands with soap and water or disinfectant, using disposable tissues when coughing or sneezing and disposing it of in the waste basket, avoiding as much as possible hand contact with the eyes, nose and mouth, avoiding direct...