Saudi Arabia has imposed a 24-hour curfew in Macca and Madina. This step was taken as a precaution to stop the spread of deadly corona virus. "The curfew will be effective in all parts of the two cities, with restrictions on entry and exit from them," Xinhua quoted the Interior Ministry official as saying. Entry and exit restrictions do not include employees from the government and private sectors, whose tasks require continuous performance during the restriction period.

Residents of both cities have been allowed to move out of their homes to meet only the essential needs such as medicines and food which have a time limit of 6 am to 3 pm every day. According to the Ministry of Health, as of Thursday, the number of infected with the epidemic has increased to 1,885 and 21 people have died.

Earlier, the Haj Minister had appealed to Muslims to postpone the preparations for Haj this time due to uncertainty arising due to Corona virus. Earlier this month, Saudi Arabia suspended the Umrah pilgrimage in fear of the spread of the Corona virus in its cities. Since this unprecedented step, the annual Hajj was also seen with uncertainty.

Saudi Arabia's Haj Minister Mohammed Bintayen told the government run, Al-Ekhbaria television on Tuesday, "Saudi Arabia is fully prepared to welcome those wishing for Hajj and Umrah, but in the current situation, in view of this global epidemic, Saudi Arab Muslims are committed for protecting the health of its citizens. So we have told our Muslim brothers of all countries that they should wait for the Haj until the situation is right. "