Latest on the global Covid crisis: 🇸🇦 Saudi Arabia lifts most Covid restrictions 🦠 China logs 329 cases 📜 Almost third of patients report lingering symptoms - study For more:
[File Photo] Saudi Arabia blocked Muslim pilgrims visits to Mecca as part of precautions to tackle the pandemic but later loosened the restrictions as most people became vaccinated. Saudi Arabia said Saturday it was lifting most Covid restrictions including social distancing in, public spaces and quarantine for vaccinated arrivals, moves that could facilitate the arrival of Muslim pilgrims.
Masks will only be required in closed spaces, according to the decision, which came into effect on Saturday. The Covid-19 pandemic has hugely disrupted Muslim pilgrimages, which are usually key revenue earners for the kingdom, bringing in some $12 billion annually.China reported 329 new confirmed coronavirus cases on the mainland on March 5, the national health authority said, compared with 281 cases a day earlier.