The Two Holy Mosques in Mecca and Madina have returned to operating at full capacity for the first time since the coronavirus pandemic began nearly two years ago.
Worshippers are now praying shoulder-to-shoulder as social distance in and around the Holy Mosques are relaxed.
“This is in line with the decision to ease precautionary measures and to allow pilgrims and visitors to the Grand Mosque at full capacity,” the official Saudi Press Agency (SPA) reported.
Visitors are however still mandated to be fully vaccinated against coronavirus and must continue to wear masks on mosque grounds.
The cordoned areas of The Kaaba have also been removed to allow worshippers to perform tawaf.
Officials took down thermal cameras installed and all equipment previously used in checking worshippers’ temperatures before entering the Grand Mosque.
“After 20 months of installing the thermal cameras at the entrance of the Holy Mosque, the presidency removed them timed with relaxing precautions and obligating worshippers to obtain permits via apps to perform Umrah and prayers,” deputy president of field services Mohammad Al Jabri said.
The easing of restrictions is in response to a sharp drop in daily infections in Saudi Arabia and a considerable advancement of vaccination numbers.
The Saudi government increased the capacity of Umrah Pilgrims in Masjid Al Haram, Makkah to 100,000 per day.
It also increased the visiting capacity for prayers to 60,000 per day.
