"We urge the government to raise anticipation against the report of the increase in COVID-19 cases in Saudi Arabia. The health services for Indonesian Hajj pilgrims must be guaranteed, so that their worship activities will not be disturbed," she said in her statement here on Thursday.
Maharani delivered the statement in following reports from the Health Ministries of Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates regarding a spike in the number of COVID-19 cases. As many as 1,029 cases were reported as of Wednesday (June 8), and the most number of cases were recorded in Riyadh.
She asked the Hajj Organizing Committee (PPIH) and Indonesian Hajj Pilgrimage Health Officers to implement stricter health protocols for Hajj pilgrims.
The government has been asked to ensure that health screenings are well run and follow the requirements set by the government of Saudi Arabia.
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The House Speaker said that health monitoring of Hajj pilgrims in Saudi Arabia must be intensified.
She emphasized that pilgrims must receive the best facilities and services, including in health care.
Maharani appealed to Indonesian Hajj pilgrims to comply with health protocols and follow COVID-19-related restrictions implemented in Saudi Arabia.
In addition, she asked pilgrims to remain alert to the extreme temperatures in Saudi Arabia, which is currently reaching more than 44 degrees Celcius.
This year, Saudi Arabia allowed one million pilgrims from various countries to perform the Hajj pilgrimage. Indonesia has been allotted a quota of 100,051 people for the pilgrimage.
Although it has given permission for foreign pilgrims to perform Hajj, Saudi Arabia has laid down two conditions for them this year. First, pilgrims must not be older than 65 years and must have received the 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: Imam Budilaksono, Raka Adji
Editor: Suharto
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