Al-Aqsa mosque in Jerusalem, the third holiest site in Islam, has been closed over coronavirus concerns. Muslim officials, according to the Associated Press, say prayers will continue outside.
The outbreak of the pandemic has forced authorities to take drastic steps including canceling the Umrah last month. Many potential travelers are concerned that Hajj could be affected too. The unprecedented move to cancel Hajj wasn’t even taken during the 1918 flu epidemic that killed tens of millions worldwide.
The Saudi government has already limited travel into the country after the novel coronavirus started spreading throughout the Middle East. On Sunday, the country announced the closure of mosques and announced that Friday prayers would be called off.
