Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on Hajj
{{short description|Effect of viral outbreak on Muslim pilgrimage}}
File:Mecca,_July_2021_25.jpg in July 2021, during COVID-19 restrictions]]
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The COVID-19 pandemic affected the 2020 Hajj (pilgrimage), which is the fifth pillar of the Five Pillars of Islam,{{Cite web|title=Pillars of Islam - Oxford Islamic Studies Online|url=http://www.oxfordislamicstudies.com/article/opr/t125/e1859|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090211151103/http://oxfordislamicstudies.com/article/opr/t125/e1859|url-status=dead|archive-date=11 February 2009|access-date=2020-06-22|website=www.oxfordislamicstudies.com}} where millions of Muslims from around the world visit Mecca and Medina every year during Hajj season for a week. Over 2,400,000 pilgrims attended Hajj in 2019.{{Cite web|title=Abstract of Hajj Statistics 1440 H|url=https://www.stats.gov.sa/sites/default/files/haj_40_en.pdf|access-date=23 June 2020|archive-date=24 December 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201224104421/https://www.stats.gov.sa/sites/default/files/haj_40_en.pdf|url-status=live}} Due to the highly contagious nature of COVID-19 in crowded places, various international travel restrictions, and social distancing recommendations, the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah advised Muslims to postpone their pilgrimage until the pandemic was mitigated.{{Cite news|date=2020-04-01|title=Saudi Arabia asks Muslims to delay Hajj bookings|language=en-GB|work=BBC News|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-52118803|access-date=2020-06-23|archive-date=6 November 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201106002841/https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-52118803|url-status=live}} However, in June 2020, the Ministry opened up Hajj to people of all nationalities residing in Saudi Arabia, with foreigners still banned from attending to ensure pilgrims' safety and prevent the transmission of COVID-19.{{Cite web|author1=Hamdi Alkhshali|author2=Larry Register|title=Saudi Arabia says Hajj pilgrimage is on -- with limited numbers|url=https://www.cnn.com/2020/06/22/middleeast/hajj-pilgrimage-saudi-arabia-coronavirus-intl/index.html|access-date=2020-06-23|website=CNN|date=22 June 2020|archive-date=23 June 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200623004918/https://www.cnn.com/2020/06/22/middleeast/hajj-pilgrimage-saudi-arabia-coronavirus-intl/index.html|url-status=live}}{{Cite web|title=Ministry of Hajj and Umrah: Hajj 1441H Is Decided to Take Place This Year with Limited Number of Pilgrims from All Nationalities Residing in Saudi Arabia The official Saudi Press Agency|url=https://www.spa.gov.sa/viewfullstory.php?lang=en&newsid=2100951|access-date=2020-06-23|website=www.spa.gov.sa|archive-date=23 June 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200623093527/https://www.spa.gov.sa/viewfullstory.php?lang=en&newsid=2100951|url-status=live}}
In April 2022, Saudi Arabia eased COVID-19 restrictions and increased Hajj capacity. One million pilgrims from inside and outside the country are allowed to participate in the Hajj.{{Cite web |title=Saudi Arabia to Allow 1 Million Hajj Pilgrims This Year |url=https://www.voanews.com/a/saudi-arabia-to-allow-1-million-hajj-pilgrims-this-year/6521977.html |access-date=2022-04-16 |website=VOA |date=8 April 2022 |language=en |archive-date=16 April 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220416101850/https://www.voanews.com/a/saudi-arabia-to-allow-1-million-hajj-pilgrims-this-year/6521977.html |url-status=live }}
Background
The COVID-19 pandemic is an ongoing global pandemic caused by coronavirus disease 2019.{{Cite web|url=https://www.who.int/docs/default-source/coronaviruse/situation-reports/20200121-sitrep-1-2019-ncov.pdf?sfvrsn=20a99c10_4|title=Novel Coronavirus (2019-nCoV) SITUATION REPORT|access-date=28 June 2020|archive-date=25 January 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200125185124/https://www.who.int/docs/default-source/coronaviruse/situation-reports/20200121-sitrep-1-2019-ncov.pdf?sfvrsn=20a99c10_4|url-status=live}} The outbreak of the virus was first noted in Wuhan, China in early December 2019.{{Cite web|title=WHO urges countries to ensure the continuity of malaria services in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic|url=https://www.who.int/news-room/detail/25-03-2020-who-urges-countries-to-ensure-the-continuity-of-malaria-services-in-the-context-of-the-covid-19-pandemic|access-date=2020-06-28|website=www.who.int|language=en|archive-date=29 June 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200629074741/https://www.who.int/news-room/detail/25-03-2020-who-urges-countries-to-ensure-the-continuity-of-malaria-services-in-the-context-of-the-covid-19-pandemic|url-status=live}} On 30 January 2020, COVID-19 was declared a Public Health Emergency of International Concern by the World Health Organization, and was declared a pandemic on 11 March 2020.{{Cite web|title=WHO announces COVID-19 outbreak a pandemic|url=https://www.euro.who.int/en/health-topics/health-emergencies/coronavirus-covid-19/news/news/2020/3/who-announces-covid-19-outbreak-a-pandemic|access-date=2020-06-28|website=www.euro.who.int|language=en|archive-date=26 June 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200626104151/https://www.euro.who.int/en/health-topics/health-emergencies/coronavirus-covid-19/news/news/2020/3/who-announces-covid-19-outbreak-a-pandemic|url-status=dead}}{{Cite magazine|title=The WHO Just Declared Coronavirus COVID-19 a Pandemic|url=https://time.com/5791661/who-coronavirus-pandemic-declaration/|access-date=2020-06-28|magazine=Time|archive-date=14 December 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201214022156/https://time.com/5791661/who-coronavirus-pandemic-declaration/|url-status=live}} The transmission of COVID-19 occurs mainly through personal contact with a carrier of the virus, which makes it highly contagious in small spaces where human contact is inevitable.{{Cite web|last=Ghose|first=Tia|title=How are people being infected with COVID-19?|url=https://www.livescience.com/how-covid-19-spreads-transmission-routes.html|access-date=2020-06-28|website=livescience.com|date=7 April 2020|language=en|archive-date=26 June 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200626030705/https://www.livescience.com/how-covid-19-spreads-transmission-routes.html|url-status=live}}{{Cite web|title=Modes of transmission of virus causing COVID-19: implications for IPC precaution recommendations|url=https://www.who.int/news-room/commentaries/detail/modes-of-transmission-of-virus-causing-covid-19-implications-for-ipc-precaution-recommendations|access-date=2020-06-28|website=www.who.int|language=en|archive-date=3 April 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200403163132/https://www.who.int/news-room/commentaries/detail/modes-of-transmission-of-virus-causing-covid-19-implications-for-ipc-precaution-recommendations|url-status=live}}{{Cite web|date=2020-02-11|title=Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19)|url=https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/hcp/faq.html|access-date=2020-06-28|website=Centers for Disease Control and Prevention|language=en-us|archive-date=14 February 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200214023335/https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/hcp/faq.html|url-status=live}} COVID-19 can be transmitted through contaminated objects that were touched or coughed on by an infected person.{{Cite web|title=How does COVID-19 spread?|url=https://www.sghgroup.com.sa/en/medical-blog/how-does-covid-19-spread|access-date=2020-06-28|website=SGH|language=en|archive-date=28 June 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200628131646/https://www.sghgroup.com.sa/en/medical-blog/how-does-covid-19-spread|url-status=dead}}{{Cite web|title=WHO Western Pacific {{!}} COVID-19 information for the public|url=https://www.who.int/westernpacific/emergencies/covid-19/information|access-date=2020-06-28|website=www.who.int|language=en|archive-date=28 June 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200628071048/https://www.who.int/westernpacific/emergencies/covid-19/information|url-status=live}}{{Cite web|date=2020-02-11|title=Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19)|url=https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/faq.html|access-date=2020-06-28|website=Centers for Disease Control and Prevention|language=en-us|archive-date=14 September 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200914152505/https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/faq.html|url-status=live}}
= Historical cancellations of Hajj =
Hajj (pilgrimage) has been cancelled 40 times through the history of Islam due to disease outbreaks, political disagreements, and battles.{{Cite web|date=2020-04-14|title=Hajj has been cancelled 40 times in history|url=https://www.siasat.com/hajj-has-been-cancelled-40-times-history-1874010/|access-date=2020-06-28|website=The Siasat Daily|language=en-GB|archive-date=29 June 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200629231550/https://www.siasat.com/hajj-has-been-cancelled-40-times-history-1874010/|url-status=live}}{{Cite web|last=Chitwood|first=Ken|title=Hajj cancellation due to coronavirus is not the first time plague has disrupted this Muslim pilgrimage|url=http://theconversation.com/hajj-cancellation-due-to-coronavirus-is-not-the-first-time-plague-has-disrupted-this-muslim-pilgrimage-135900|access-date=2020-06-28|website=The Conversation|date=23 April 2020|language=en|archive-date=25 June 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200625074952/https://theconversation.com/hajj-cancellation-due-to-coronavirus-is-not-the-first-time-plague-has-disrupted-this-muslim-pilgrimage-135900|url-status=live}} In 930-940 CE (318-328 AH), Hajj was canceled due to the Qarmatian attack, which led to the murder of 30,000 pilgrims and the looting of the Black Stone.{{Cite web|date=2020-04-04|title=The Hajj Has Been Canceled 40 Times In The History|url=https://theislamicinformation.com/hajj-has-been-canceled-40-times-history/|access-date=2020-06-28|website=The Islamic Information|language=en-US|archive-date=29 June 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200629124718/https://theislamicinformation.com/hajj-has-been-canceled-40-times-history/|url-status=live}}{{Cite web|last=Team|first=T. M. V.|date=2020-04-02|title=A Brief Look At When Hajj Was Cancelled In History - TMV|url=https://themuslimvibe.com/muslim-current-affairs-news/a-brief-look-at-when-hajj-was-cancelled-in-history|access-date=2020-06-28|language=en-GB|archive-date=28 June 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200628131644/https://themuslimvibe.com/muslim-current-affairs-news/a-brief-look-at-when-hajj-was-cancelled-in-history|url-status=live}} In 1831, Hajj was suspended after the arrival of Indian pilgrims in Mecca led to the outbreak of a new plague, which is claimed to have killed more than half of the pilgrims in Mecca. The first outbreak of cholera in Mecca occurred in 1846, killing more than 15,000 and causing a citywide plague lasting until 1850. A second outbreak of cholera happened in 1858, leading to pilgrims being quarantined inside Hajj camps in Egypt.{{Cite web|title=Hajj It has stopped in history more than 40 times .. Will it stop again because of Corona virus?|url=https://www.arabiaweather.com/content/%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%AD%D8%AC-%D8%AA%D9%88%D9%82%D9%81-%D8%B9%D8%A8%D8%B1-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%AA%D8%A7%D8%B1%D9%8A%D8%AE-%D8%A3%D9%83%D8%AB%D8%B1-%D9%85%D9%86-40-%D9%85%D8%B1%D8%A9-%D9%81%D9%87%D9%84-%D9%8A%D8%AA%D9%88%D9%82%D9%81-%D9%85%D8%B1%D8%A9-%D8%A3%D8%AE%D8%B1%D9%89-%D8%A8%D8%B3%D8%A8%D8%A8-%D9%81%D8%A7%D9%8A%D8%B1%D9%88%D8%B3-%D9%83%D9%88%D8%B1%D9%88%D9%86%D8%A7%D8%9F|access-date=2020-06-28|website=www.arabiaweather.com|language=en|archive-date=28 June 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200628131644/https://www.arabiaweather.com/content/%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%AD%D8%AC-%D8%AA%D9%88%D9%82%D9%81-%D8%B9%D8%A8%D8%B1-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%AA%D8%A7%D8%B1%D9%8A%D8%AE-%D8%A3%D9%83%D8%AB%D8%B1-%D9%85%D9%86-40-%D9%85%D8%B1%D8%A9-%D9%81%D9%87%D9%84-%D9%8A%D8%AA%D9%88%D9%82%D9%81-%D9%85%D8%B1%D8%A9-%D8%A3%D8%AE%D8%B1%D9%89-%D8%A8%D8%B3%D8%A8%D8%A8-%D9%81%D8%A7%D9%8A%D8%B1%D9%88%D8%B3-%D9%83%D9%88%D8%B1%D9%88%D9%86%D8%A7%D8%9F|url-status=live}}
Hajj 2020
In February 2020, Saudi Arabia closed the two holy sites of Mecca and Medina to halt the spread of the virus, but reopened in early March. Later, measures were taken by the Saudi government to mitigate an outbreak of COVID-19, such as imposing a 24-hour curfew in Mecca and Medina.{{Cite web|title=Saudi Arabia reopens Mecca, Madinah holy sites after coronavirus closure|url=https://gulfnews.com/world/mena/saudi-arabia-reopens-mecca-madinah-holy-sites-after-coronavirus-closure-1.1583478146413|access-date=2020-06-28|website=gulfnews.com|date=6 March 2020|language=en|archive-date=30 June 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200630051437/https://gulfnews.com/world/mena/saudi-arabia-reopens-mecca-madinah-holy-sites-after-coronavirus-closure-1.1583478146413|url-status=live}}{{Cite news|date=2020-03-06|title=Saudi Arabia reopens Mecca, Medina holy sites after coronavirus closure: state TV|language=en|work=Reuters|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-saudi-mosque-idUSKBN20T0A8|access-date=2020-06-28|archive-date=27 November 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201127052155/https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-saudi-mosque-idUSKBN20T0A8|url-status=live}}
= Participant selection =
On 23 June 2020, Saudi Arabia announced Hajj would be held for a limited number of pilgrims who resided within the country due to the high risk of COVID-19.{{Cite web|date=2020-06-23|title=Arab countries welcome Saudi Arabia's decision on Hajj 2020|url=https://arab.news/wqa7y|access-date=2020-06-28|website=Arab News|language=en}}{{Cite web|date=2020-06-25|title=Coronavirus: WHO backs Saudi Arabia's decision to hold limited Haj 2020|url=https://alkhaleejtoday.co/international/5011116/Coronavirus-WHO-backs-Saudi-Arabias-decision-to-hold-limited-Haj-2020.html|access-date=2020-06-28|website=AlKhaleej Today|language=ar|archive-date=29 June 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200629233803/https://alkhaleejtoday.co/international/5011116/Coronavirus-WHO-backs-Saudi-Arabias-decision-to-hold-limited-Haj-2020.html|url-status=live}} The Saudi Ministry of Hajj and Umrah imposed restrictions to the type of pilgrims who can attend Hajj in 2020, only healthy Saudi residents between the ages of 20 and 50 with no COVID-19 symptoms were allowed to participate.{{Cite web|author1=Hamdi Alkhshali|author2=Larry Register|title=Saudi Arabia says Hajj pilgrimage is on -- with limited numbers|url=https://www.cnn.com/2020/06/22/middleeast/hajj-pilgrimage-saudi-arabia-coronavirus-intl/index.html|access-date=2020-06-28|website=CNN|date=22 June 2020|archive-date=23 June 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200623004918/https://www.cnn.com/2020/06/22/middleeast/hajj-pilgrimage-saudi-arabia-coronavirus-intl/index.html|url-status=live}}{{Cite news|last1=Henley|first1=Jon|last2=Sherwood|first2=Harriet|last3=correspondent|first3=Religion|date=2020-06-23|title=Global report: Covid-19 restricts hajj and Germany locks down district|language=en-GB|work=The Guardian|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/jun/23/saudi-arabia-bars-foreign-pilgrims-from-hajj-over-coronavirus-fears|access-date=2020-06-28|issn=0261-3077|archive-date=26 November 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201126192206/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/jun/23/saudi-arabia-bars-foreign-pilgrims-from-hajj-over-coronavirus-fears|url-status=live}}{{Cite web|date=2020-06-09|title=Saudi considers limiting hajj pilgrims amid coronavirus fears|url=https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20200609-saudi-considers-limiting-hajj-pilgrims-amid-coronavirus-fears/|access-date=2020-06-28|website=Middle East Monitor|language=en-GB|archive-date=29 June 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200629120123/https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20200609-saudi-considers-limiting-hajj-pilgrims-amid-coronavirus-fears/|url-status=live}} Participants had to first apply online, and preference was given to those who had not attended in the past.{{cite news|author=|date=2020-07-29|title=Watch again: Pilgrims arrive in Saudi Arabia for first day of Hajj, as COVID-19 reshapes experience|work=euronews|location=Saudi Arabia|url=https://www.euronews.com/2020/07/29/pilgrims-arrive-in-saudi-arabia-for-the-first-day-of-hajj-as-covid-19-reshapes-experience|access-date=2020-09-19|archive-date=27 November 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201127020823/https://www.euronews.com/2020/07/29/pilgrims-arrive-in-saudi-arabia-for-the-first-day-of-hajj-as-covid-19-reshapes-experience|url-status=live}} Pilgrims were chosen from the COVID-19 recovery database, 70% of them were non-Saudi residents.{{Cite web|title=Ministry of Hajj and Umrah: Selection of Hajj 2020 Pilgrims to Follow Rigorous Health Standards The official Saudi Press Agency|url=https://www.spa.gov.sa/viewfullstory.php?lang=en&newsid=2107113|access-date=2020-08-09|website=www.spa.gov.sa|archive-date=12 August 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200812182819/https://www.spa.gov.sa/viewfullstory.php?lang=en&newsid=2107113|url-status=live}}
Only ten thousand pilgrims were expected, as opposed to over two million in previous years.{{Cite news|date=2020-07-29|title=Scaled back Hajj pilgrimage due to start|language=en-GB|work=BBC News|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-53571886|access-date=2020-07-29|archive-date=19 December 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201219121246/https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-53571886|url-status=live}}
= Safety measures =
The Saudi Ministry of Health reported taking serious measures during the Hajj 2020. Pilgrims who were not affected by the virus were required to quarantine themselves at hotel rooms or at their homes if they lived close enough to Mecca for a week prior to the arrival to perform Hajj.{{Cite web|date=2020-07-25|title=Coronavirus: Saudi Arabia welcomes Hajj pilgrims under strict COVID-19 measures|url=https://english.alarabiya.net/en/coronavirus/2020/07/25/Coronavirus-Saudi-Arabia-welcomes-Hajj-pilgrims-under-strict-COVID-19-measures.html|access-date=2020-08-09|website=Al Arabiya English|language=en|archive-date=28 July 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200728231744/https://english.alarabiya.net/en/coronavirus/2020/07/25/Coronavirus-Saudi-Arabia-welcomes-Hajj-pilgrims-under-strict-COVID-19-measures.html|url-status=live}} Inside the mosque, pilgrims were asked to maintain a safe social distance of two meters, and were separated into groups of 20 individuals who were accompanied by a guide through their whole Hajj performance.{{Cite web|date=2020-07-31|title=Coronavirus: WHO chief hails Saudi Arabia's COVID-19 measures during Hajj|url=https://english.alarabiya.net/en/coronavirus/2020/07/31/Coronavirus-WHO-chief-hails-Saudi-Arabia-s-COVID-19-measures-during-Hajj.html|access-date=2020-08-09|website=Al Arabiya English|language=en|archive-date=5 August 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200805084103/https://english.alarabiya.net/en/coronavirus/2020/07/31/Coronavirus-WHO-chief-hails-Saudi-Arabia-s-COVID-19-measures-during-Hajj.html|url-status=live}}
== Hajj 2021 ==
On 12 June 2021, Saudi authorities banned foreign visitors for the second consecutive year and limited the pilgrimage to 60,000 people. It also imposed as condition that people participating be between the ages of 18 and 65, vaccinated and without chronic diseases.{{cite news |title=Saudi Arabia bars foreign pilgrims from Hajj due to COVID |url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2021/6/12/saudi-arabia-to-allow-60000-vaccinated-residents-to-perform-hajj |access-date=12 June 2021 |agency=Al Jazeera |date=12 June 2021 |archive-date=12 June 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210612150651/https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2021/6/12/saudi-arabia-to-allow-60000-vaccinated-residents-to-perform-hajj |url-status=live }}{{cite news |title=Saudi Arabia Says Hajj Will Be Limited To 60,000 People, All From Within The Kingdom |url=https://www.npr.org/2021/06/12/1005859782/hajj-saudi-arabia-60000-pilgrims-pandemic |access-date=12 June 2021 |agency=NPR |date=12 June 2021 |archive-date=12 June 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210612150623/https://www.npr.org/2021/06/12/1005859782/hajj-saudi-arabia-60000-pilgrims-pandemic |url-status=live }}
International reactions
On 15 May 2020, the Singapore Muslims Council (MUIS) advised pilgrims to skip Hajj that year due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
On 2 June 2020, the Indonesian Minister of Religious Affairs declared cancelling the 2020 Hajj before any groups of Indonesian pilgrims headed to Mecca.{{Cite web|title=Indonesia Cancels Hajj Pilgrimage, Citing Risks Of Travel During Pandemic|url=https://www.npr.org/sections/coronavirus-live-updates/2020/06/02/867976382/indonesia-cancels-hajj-pilgrimage-citing-risks-of-travel-during-pandemic|access-date=2020-06-28|website=NPR.org|language=en|archive-date=27 June 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200627204208/https://www.npr.org/sections/coronavirus-live-updates/2020/06/02/867976382/indonesia-cancels-hajj-pilgrimage-citing-risks-of-travel-during-pandemic|url-status=live}}{{Cite web|title='It's impossible': Indonesia holds firm on haj cancellation|url=https://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2020/06/09/its-impossible-indonesia-holds-firm-on-haj-cancellation.html|access-date=2020-06-28|website=The Jakarta Post|language=en|archive-date=30 June 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200630002453/https://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2020/06/09/its-impossible-indonesia-holds-firm-on-haj-cancellation.html|url-status=live}}
On 6 June 2020, the Indian Hajj Committee announced it would provide refunds to all the pilgrims who were unable to attend Hajj in 2020.{{Cite web|title=Hajj cancelled for Indian pilgrims for this year; to receive full refund through direct transfer: Govt|url=https://www.timesnownews.com/india/article/hajj-cancelled-for-indian-pilgrims-for-this-year-to-receive-full-refund-through-direct-transfer-govt/610569|access-date=2020-06-28|website=www.timesnownews.com|date=23 June 2020|language=en|archive-date=1 July 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200701023317/https://www.timesnownews.com/india/article/hajj-cancelled-for-indian-pilgrims-for-this-year-to-receive-full-refund-through-direct-transfer-govt/610569|url-status=live}}{{Cite news|agency=PTI|date=2020-06-06|title=Coronavirus {{!}} Haj unlikely this year for Indian Muslims, say sources|language=en-IN|work=The Hindu|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/coronavirus-haj-unlikely-this-year-for-indian-muslims-say-sources/article31767668.ece|access-date=2020-06-28|issn=0971-751X|archive-date=27 November 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201127061856/https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/coronavirus-haj-unlikely-this-year-for-indian-muslims-say-sources/article31767668.ece|url-status=live}}
On 11 June 2020, Malaysia announced it was barring pilgrims from attending Hajj in 2020 out of concerns over the danger of COVID-19, and the high spreadability of the virus in crowded places.{{Cite news|date=2020-06-11|title=Malaysia bars citizens from haj pilgrimage on coronavirus fears|language=en|work=Reuters|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-malaysia-haj-idUSKBN23I1KG|access-date=2020-06-28|archive-date=30 September 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200930182059/https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-malaysia-haj-idUSKBN23I1KG|url-status=live}}{{Cite web|title=Malaysia Joins Nations Pulling Out of Hajj Pilgrimage Over COVID-19 Concerns|url=https://www.benarnews.org/english/news/malaysian/hajj-off-06112020155802.html|access-date=2020-06-28|website=BenarNews|language=en|archive-date=26 June 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200626214349/https://www.benarnews.org/english/news/malaysian/hajj-off-06112020155802.html|url-status=live}}