The Ministry of Health says the rising number of cases from umrah pilgrim clusters is serious and concerning because it occurred over a short time span, and the disease has spread rapidly from imported cases to family members.
“The cause of the spread of these clusters are due to activities during umrah that breach standard operating procedures (SOPs) including lack of physical distancing, lack of a mask mandate, and the involvement of umrah pilgrims from all over the world.
“In addition, during home quarantine after umrah pilgrimage, there are some activities that breach SOPs such as visitations, meeting pilgrims or family members who just returned from the Holy Land, and so on,” said Health Ministry director-general Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah.
