Only around one thousand Muslims will perform Hajj in Saudi Arabia today as part of downsized pilgrimage due to Coronavirus pandemic. Thirty per cent of them are Saudi citizens while the remaining seventy per cent are foreign nationals residing in the kingdom.

Marking the beginning of a five-day pilgrimage, Haj pilgrims converged at Mina yesterday. After offering pre-dawn prayers, they will proceed to the plains of Arafat today for the main ritual of Haj -reciting prayers. They will spend the day there praying and asking for God's forgiveness.

The pilgrims will listen to the Khutba-e-Hajj or Hajj Sermon at Nimra mosque and offer mid-day and afternoon prayers together before leaving for Muzdalifah in the evening. The pilgrims will return to Mina tomorrow morning for the ritual of animal sacrifice and symbolic stoning of the devil. Around 2.5 million pilgrims including record two lakh from India performed Hajj last year.

In the United Arab Emirates, the government has urged residents and citizens to observe the forthcoming Eid Al-Adha with safety in view of the global pandemic. It has advised the faithful to offer prayers at home. People have been advised to avoid any social gathering and large family meetings on the occasion. Eid Al-Adha is likely to be observed tomorrow.

Meanwhile, the Abu Dhabi Police have issued a fresh warning of legal action and stiff penalties to violators of precautionary measures implemented by the Emirate to curb the spread of COVID-19.In a tweet, the Abu Dhabi Police said that violating restrictions related to public and private gatherings, meetings and celebrations will invite a fine of 10,000 Dirhams for those organizing such gatherings and a fine of 5,000 Dirhams for each of the participants attending them.

In the United Arab Emirates, the Health Ministry yesterday announced 375 fresh cases of COVID-19, bringing the total number of cases in the country to 59,921. In a statement, the Ministry stressed its aim to continue expanding the scope of testing nationwide to facilitate the early detection of Coronavirus cases and carry out the necessary treatment.

The Ministry also noted an additional 297 individuals had fully recovered from COVID-19, bringing the total number of recoveries to 53,202. No new death in the UAE due to the virus was registered, the Ministry added. As the Haj season starts, the Saudi Ministry of Health said that there are no cases of COVID-19 at the pilgrimage site.

Saudi Ministry of Health said that 1,759 new cases of COVID-19 have been reported in the Kingdom, bringing the total number to 2,72,590 cases, including 41,205 active cases receiving necessary medical care.

As many as 2,945 patients have recovered, bringing the total recoveries to 2,28,569, the Saudi Ministry said, adding that 27 new deaths have been reported, bringing the total number of deaths to 2,816.