No COVID-19 cases detected among Hajj pilgrims, infection numbers continue to fall

A handout picture provided by Saudi Ministry of Media on July 31, 2020 shows pilgrims circumambulating around the Kaaba. (AFP/HO/Saudi Ministry of Media)
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Updated 31 July 2020
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No COVID-19 cases detected among Hajj pilgrims, infection numbers continue to fall

  • Of the new cases, the highest number was reported in Makkah with 178 infections
  • Saudi Arabia has implemented a number of measures in order to keep pilgrims safe

LONDON: There were 1,686 new cases of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) recorded in Saudi Arabia on Friday, but none were detected among the Hajj pilgrims.

The new cases announced by the Ministry of Health brought the total number of confirmed cases in the Kingdom to 275,905.

Of the new cases, the highest number was reported in Makkah with 178 infections, but Hajj pilgrims remained virus free as of Friday.

The rest of the new infections were confirmed in cities and provinces across Saudi Arabia.

Saudi Arabia implemented a number of measures in order to keep pilgrims safe from infection during a restricted Hajj pilgrimage this year.

In the past 24 hours, 24 more people died due to COVID-19, which raised the virus-related death in Saudi Arabia toll to 2,866.

The total number of recoveries rose to 235,658 after 4,460 more people recovered from the virus.

 


Minister launches smart control center in Madinah

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Minister launches smart control center in Madinah

MADINAH: Saudi Arabia’s Minister of Hajj and Umrah Tawfiq Al-Rabiah has launched the Smart Engineering Command and Control Center at the Prophet’s Mosque in Madinah, ahead of the holy month of Ramadan.

The ceremony was attended by Ghazi Al-Shahrani, the CEO of the General Authority for the Affairs of the Grand Mosque and the Prophet’s Mosque, along with several executive leaders.

The launch marks a major step in enhancing the service ecosystem for visitors, improving operational efficiency, and elevating worshippers’ experiences through advanced smart technologies.

The authority said the center represented a transformative approach to monitoring service operations at the Prophet’s Mosque, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

It features interactive screens linked to digital operational data on assets, services, visitor feedback, and compliance, enabling faster monitoring and response.

Staffed by qualified personnel across four shifts, the center operates 24/7 to ensure rapid handling of reports and the support of daily operations.

It also strengthens operational governance through digital performance indicators and analytical reports based on historic, current, and predictive data, while integrating with relevant external entities to support informed decision-making.

Now fully operational, the center is designed to manage peak periods year-round, particularly during Ramadan and Hajj, using key and subsidiary performance indicators to monitor all services.