RIYADH — Deputy Minister of Hajj and Umrah Dr. Abdul Fattah Mashat has stated the impact of the monkeypox during the Hajj is not a major concern. Mashat made remarks during an interview with the Saudi channel Al-Saudiya. He said the Haj organizers could trust the Ministry of Health's measures to confront monkeypox. While the Ministry of Health set the health requirements to allow pilgrims to perform the rituals, they did not include any measures monkeypox at the time, Mashat confirmed, noting that the Ministry is taking proactive actions to deal with any case of this disease if it appears during the Hajj season. Saudi Arabia always raises its slogan, which is "Human Health First", which makes it imperative that there are requirements to maintain the health of pilgrims during their entire journey until they complete the rituals, he said. Mashat noted that the variation in the level of health from one country to another controls the health requirements imposed for Hajj. He said that the Ministry, while setting the health requirements, has focused on the proactive and preventive matters that represent and aim through the health protocols to prevent diseases, but not waiting to deal with them. Mashat indicated that the proactive and preventive matters that the ministry focused on lie in its requirements for pilgrims wishing to perform the Hajj rituals on several matters, including: the obligation to provide a PCR test 72 hours before arrival, as well as immunization, in addition to the age of the pilgrim not exceeding 65 years. He confirmed that the Arafat area has been covered with an electrical network that is sufficient for an entire city in preparation for the Hajj season. Also, 20% of the Mina camps have been fully developed, on several levels, including housing and toilets, Mashat said, noting that more than 1,000 toilet complexes have been built in the tent city. As for children during the Hajj period, Mashat confirmed that the minimum age for performing the Hajj rituals is 15 years, indicating that any pilgrim who brings children with them is considered a violator of regulations in this regard.
