We always appeal to the pilgrims to limit carrying out outdoor activitiesJakarta (ANTARA) - Head of the Hajj Health Center of the Health Ministry Budi Sylvana has appealed to Hajj pilgrims to stay hydrated and limit outdoor activities amid soaring temperature in Saudi Arabia.
"We always appeal to the pilgrims to limit carrying out outdoor activities. If they have to go out, they need to completely equip themselves with protective equipment and wear sandals or footwear," he said at a press conference here on Tuesday.
Sylvana noted that the highest temperature in Saudi Arabia has so far reached 44 degrees Celsius, but it can feel like 47 degrees Celsius during the day. Meanwhile, the lowest temperature has been recorded at 33 degrees Celsius in the early morning.
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In comparison, the maximum temperature in Jakarta has so far reached 32 degrees Celsius and the minimum temperature 25 degrees Celsius.
Budi Sylvana hoped that the pilgrims would be aware of the importance of maintaining their health during the pilgrimage. The Ministry of Health is also seeking support from religious leaders and teachers to educate pilgrims on the matter.
"We are also asking worship assistants and Hajj officers to always educate the pilgrims to drink more and not do excessive activities," he added.
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So far, 7,054 Indonesian Hajj pilgrims have reached Medina. Of that number, two pilgrims are being treated at the Indonesian Hajj Health Clinic (KKHI) in Medina.
Meanwhile, as many as 3,259 Indonesian Hajj pilgrims are scheduled to leave for Saudi Arabia on Tuesday (June 7, 2022).
This year, Saudi Arabia has allowed one million pilgrims from various countries to perform the Hajj pilgrimage. Indonesia has been allotted a quota of 100,051 pilgrims.
Although it has allowed foreign pilgrims to perform Hajj, Saudi Arabia has laid down two conditions for them this year. First, the pilgrims must not be older than 65 years and must have received a full dose of any COVID-19 vaccine approved by the Saudi Health Ministry.
Second, pilgrims traveling from abroad must have a certificate showing a negative PCR result, with the test taken no more than 72 hours prior to departure.
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Translator: Asep Firmansyah, Raka Adji
Editor: Fardah Assegaf
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