Coronavirus: Saudi Arabia sets up self-sanitization gates in Mecca’s Grand Mosque

The General Presidency of the Affairs of the Grand Mosque and the Prophet’s Mosque has launched self-sterilization gates at the entrance of Mecca’s Grand Mosque as part of measures to curb the coronavirus outbreak, reported Saudi Press Agency (SPA) on Thursday .

For more coronavirus news, visit our dedicated page.

Before anyone enters the mosque’s courtyards, they must pass through the gate which sterilizes them from head to toe using a sanitizing spray.

The gates have been set up just one week after thermal cameras were installed at Islam’s holiest site, the Kaaba in the Grand Mosque in Mecca.

The cameras, which can accurately scan the temperatures of up to 25 people at the same time, were also placed at the entrances of the courtyards.

Also read: Coronavirus: Saudi Arabia’s al-Sudais marks thermal cameras launch in Kaaba

Similar cameras were put up in the Prophet’s Mosque in Medina earlier this month.

Authorities closed the holy sites to the public as part of measures to combat the spread of the coronavirus.

Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Islamic Affairs in April denied rumors that mosques across the Kingdom would reopen soon for congressional prayers after the coronavirus pandemic forced their closure last month.

Read more:

Coronavirus: Saudi Arabia activates thermal cameras in Medina’s Prophet’s Mosque

Coronavirus: Saudi Arabia’s Al-Sudais uses ‘Ozone tech’ to sterilize Kaaba in Mecca

Pictures: Saudi Arabia’s authorities in Mecca sterilize cover, surface of Holy Kaaba