Iranian Pilgrims to Be Sent to Iraq, Syria After Pandemic Subsides
Head of the Hajj and Pilgrimage Organization Ali Reza Rashidian said preparations have been made for starting the dispatch of pilgrims as soon as the pandemic recedes.
He said a number of protocols have also been prepared in cooperation with the Health Ministry and the Iranian Red Crescent Society and have been sent to the Iraqi and Syrian sides via the Foreign Ministry.
According to these protocols, pilgrims will be screened based on World Health Organization (WHO) standards and given health certificates to be able to travel to the two countries, he added.
The novel coronavirus, known as COVID-19, has infected more than 2 million people around the world. Nearly 127,000 have died of the disease.
The outbreak has had a major impact on global sporting, cultural, religious and political events, with a host of events canceled or postponed.
Mosques and religious sites have also been closed to worshippers and pilgrims to stem the spread of the virus.
