Hajj pilgrims maintain perfect social distancing while circumambulating Kaaba; leave netizens astounded

This year, due to the raging global health crisis caused by the novel coronavirus pandemic outbreak, only people residing in Saudi Arabia have been allowed to attend the annual auspicious Hajj pilgrimage. Hajj began on July 28 and will end on August 2 this year.

Unbelievable scenes from Mecca today! Historic Hajj amid the threat of coronavirus. @AFP has amazing colorful photos on a very, very sunny day! pic.twitter.com/0RvTVwGWtd

— Mohamad Ali Harissi (@aleeharissi) July 29, 2020

I find them quite haunting. Having seen images year after year of literally thousands of people doing exactly this, to see these photos is really quite sobering. I think these are the comparison images that really bring home the reality of the situation

— Atif ن‎ (@eytif) July 30, 2020

finally some modern order tidiness and peace came to hajj by the courtesy of coronavirus. corona the civilization bringer. this should be the hajj from the beginning : ) a norwegian regular time social distancing level..

— kent errata (@KentErrata) July 29, 2020

Looks better. Havent people died from being trampled there? I think social distancing is a godsend

Close

COVID-19 Vaccine

Frequently Asked Questions

View more

How does a vaccine work?

A vaccine works by mimicking a natural infection. A vaccine not only induces immune response to protect people from any future COVID-19 infection, but also helps quickly build herd immunity to put an end to the pandemic. Herd immunity occurs when a sufficient percentage of a population becomes immune to a disease, making the spread of disease from person to person unlikely. The good news is that SARS-CoV-2 virus has been fairly stable, which increases the viability of a vaccine.

How many types of vaccines are there?

There are broadly four types of vaccine — one, a vaccine based on the whole virus (this could be either inactivated, or an attenuated [weakened] virus vaccine); two, a non-replicating viral vector vaccine that uses a benign virus as vector that carries the antigen of SARS-CoV; three, nucleic-acid vaccines that have genetic material like DNA and RNA of antigens like spike protein given to a person, helping human cells decode genetic material and produce the vaccine; and four, protein subunit vaccine wherein the recombinant proteins of SARS-COV-2 along with an adjuvant (booster) is given as a vaccine.

What does it take to develop a vaccine of this kind?

Vaccine development is a long, complex process. Unlike drugs that are given to people with a diseased, vaccines are given to healthy people and also vulnerable sections such as children, pregnant women and the elderly. So rigorous tests are compulsory. History says that the fastest time it took to develop a vaccine is five years, but it usually takes double or sometimes triple that time.

View more

Show

Related stories

• 
  Health Ministry reduces gap between second vaccine dose and booster dose
• 
  Fresh COVID-19 outbreaks put millions under lockdown in China
• 
  Coronavirus Update | Active COVID-19 cases in country rise to 1,15,212

— keylime (@6ftmask) July 29, 2020

This looks like a more sensible way. Not packed in so tight you could get crushed at any moment.

— Clayton LaPlant (@clayton988) July 29, 2020

According to an Al Jazeera report, the number of pilgrims visiting Mecca and Medina annually was reduced from two and a half million to 10,000 this year to ensure there is no overcrowding.

The report further mentions that only small groups of 50 pilgrims at a time were allowed near the Kaaba. Each of them could be seen wearing masks while also keeping a safe distance from each other. Their movements were constantly monitored by a health professional.

Furthermore, 35,00 workers are on duty to keep the Grand Mosque sanitised. More than 50,000 litres of disinfectant and 1,050 litres of air fresheners are being used daily to keep the premises clean. The floors are also being cleaned 10 times every day.