Despite Implementing A Strict Prokes, Minister Of Religion Yaqut Cholil Admits That There Are Hajj Pilgrims Affected By COVID-19

Yaqut Minister of Religion Cholil Qoumas attended the Working Meeting of Commission VIII of the House of Representatives and the Ministry of Religion (ANTARA)

JAKARTA - Minister of Religion (Menag) Yaqut Cholil Qoumas said that during the COVID-19 pandemic there had been 1,090 Indonesian worshipers who performed Umrah pilgrimage to the holy land, Saudi Arabia.

The congregation during the holy pilgrimage continues to apply strict health protocols.

"During this pandemic, the Umrah pilgrims departing until January 11th were 1,090 pilgrims, which were dispatched by 112 Umrah Worship Trip Organizers (PPIU)," said Minister of Religion Yaqut at a Joint Working Meeting of Commission VIII DPR RI as quoted by Antara, Monday, January 18.

He said the strict protocol enforced for Indonesian Umrah pilgrims was marked by the many criteria a person could perform.

Some of the requirements are such as carrying out the PCR swab test repeatedly and quarantine before and after Umrah.

The strict regulations, he said, were contained in the Decree of the Minister of Religion of the Republic of Indonesia Number 719 of 2020 concerning Guidelines for Organizing Umrah Worship Trips during the Pandemic Period.

Even so, he continued, there were still congregants who had contracted the SARS-CoV-2 virus.

"The PCR swab test was carried out on each congregation both before leaving and upon arrival in Saudi with 58 positive results for COVID-19 before leaving and 46 pilgrims positive while in Saudi," he said.

Minister of Religion Yaqut said for pilgrims who were positive for COVID-19 before leaving, they were isolated independently and left when they were negative for SARS-CoV-2.

For those who are positive when in Saudi, they are isolated in the hotel where they stay. All of the infected pilgrims have recovered and have been returned to Indonesia.

According to him, there is a gap in the transmission of COVID-19 during Umrah and it should be fixed.

"Verification of congregation PCR / SWAB results documents is still done manually or has not used a QR code / bar code so that the validity of the results is still not 100 percent guaranteed," he said.