MECCA: The General Presidency of Saudi Arabia for the Affairs of the Two Holy Mosques is sparing no effort in its efforts to clean and disinfect the Grand Mosque, despite the Kingdom experiencing a steady decline in COVID-19 cases.
Mohammed Al-Jabri, Deputy Secretary-General of the Agency for Services, Field Affairs and Environmental Protection, said that a series of preventive measures will ensure a healthy and safe environment for pilgrims to perform their rituals.
Constant supervision is being carried out over disinfection and sanitation operations, as well as transportation and other services provided at the gates of the Grand Mosque.
The mosque has 25,000 carpets, and about 4,000 men and women and 11 smart robots disinfect the area around the clock.
Commenting on the cleaning machines, Al-Jabri said: «The agency uses more than 840 units of equipment and machines for cleaning and disinfecting the Grand Mosque. It also monitors environmental prevention and infection control, directing several teams to disinfect all areas of the Grand Mosque, including outer courtyards, restrooms, floors and carpets.».
He added: «There are 8,000 electric and regular golf carts to serve pilgrims, including 5,000 regular carts and nearly 3,000 electric carts, which are disinfected before and after use.».
To ensure smooth and organized movement of pilgrims, the agency has assigned observers at each of the 150 doors of the Grand Mosque to receive worshippers and guide them to prayer areas and various entry and exit points in the Haram.
Security personnel were also deployed around the mosque to ensure that pilgrims are not disturbed by other prohibited actions, such as smoking, selling items or begging.
Al-Jabri said: «The agency has equipped the area with all necessary services, including Zamzam water containers, air conditioners, Qur'an stands, a sound system, lighting systems, carpets, restrooms, in addition to operating many escalators that transport worshippers and the elderly to all available floors.
«Agency staff monitor the entry and exit of worshippers, ensure their safety, guide them to designated prayer areas, and organize passages and corridors in coordination with competent authorities in accordance with pre-prepared plans to facilitate the movement of those heading to the northern expansion with ease.».
Al-Jabri said that the agency distributes more than 2 million bottles of Zamzam water daily, and more than 25,000 Zamzam containers operate throughout the Grand Mosque, including 2,500 water stands in the northern section.
The agency also provides the prayer hall with a sufficient number of Zamzam water containers and monitors the distribution of Zamzam water bottles in the courtyard for pilgrims, as well as ensures continuous disinfection of carts and containers.
More than 50 random samples are taken daily from different locations in the Grand Mosque to ensure that Zamzam water is safe for consumption.
According to Al-Jabri, the agency has issued 2,000 permits for feeding worshippers inside the Grand Mosque and 70 permits for the mosque's outer courtyards.