Saudi Arabia declares epidemic-free Hajj

 Saudi Arabia's Acting Minister of Health Adel Faqih has declared the safety of this year's Hajj season, saying that all pilgrims are very well.
Speaking at a press conference, the minister said: "The Hajj season has been free from epidemic and quarantine diseases and that all pilgrims are healthy and well." The Saudi government, represented by the Ministry of Health, has adopted a package of special precautionary and preventive measures, along with technical and technological preparations, during this annual religious event.
The ministry has applied necessary health requirements to all pilgrims coming from outside the kingdom with a view to averting the entry of epidemic cases, he added.
Furthermore, joint cooperation between Saudi Arabia and the World Health Organization (WHO) and other world specialized organizations has been put in effect for the occasion, the Saudi health minister pointed out.
For his part, World Health Organization's representative in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Dr. Hassan Al-Bushra extended congratulations to the kingdom, represented by the Ministry of Health, on the achievements accomplished in dealing with crowds' health management.
He also highly commended the Saudi Health Ministry's plans to handle health risks and perils, including epidemics, during the Hajj season.