Regarding Umrah, Ministry Of Religion: Indonesia Is Still Suspended By Saudi Arabia If Indonesia's COVID-19 Cases Are Still High

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JAKARTA - The Director General of Hajj and Umrah (PHU) of the Indonesian Ministry of Religion, Khoirizi, explained that the successful handling of COVID-19 in the country will have an impact on the permit for the implementation of Umrah to Saudi Arabia. One of them, opened a postponement or suspension of sending Indonesian Umrah pilgrims to the holy land. "Our suspension cannot be opened, if the death rate and spread of COVID-19 cannot be controlled," said Khoirizi in the Webinar 'Preparing for Indonesia to May Umrah Again' , Thursday, August 26. Therefore, the Director General of PKU of the Ministry of Religion hopes that the COVID-19 condition that has subsided and the declining death rate can continue until cases are under control. Currently, Indonesia is grateful that the Sinovac vaccine has been recognized by the WHO. However, the Saudi Arabian government has not issued a regulation that allows the Sinovac vaccine to apply to Umrah pilgrims. Then, related to Saudi Arabia not yet opened to accept Umrah pilgrims from abroad. Including Indonesia. "You can't send pilgrims, it's not impossible for this Umrah to be understood," he explained. "The problem is, when COVID-19 is high, mortality is high, then we are suspended, we can't fly there. we can't go for umrah," he continued. Khoirizi explained that since 15 Zulqaidah, the Saudi Arabian government had indeed announced that they had opened the pilgrimage. However, the circular announcement is only limited to stakeholders organizing Umrah in Saudi Arabia, not foreign consumption. "What does it mean, no country has yet been able to carry out Umrah. When stakeholders have not been able to prepare regulations submitted by the Saudi Arabian government, including flight protocols, vaccines, etc. stakeholders organizing Umrah in the holy land in Saudi Arabia," he explained. For that, said Khoirizi, Indonesia can prepare for the implementation of Umrah by reducing the rate of spread and death of COVID-19 cases. "But if the community doesn't participate in overcoming this, they don't obey health protocols, they don't want vaccines, this (umrah, ed) is impossible," said Khoirizi. "So we all have to participate in complying with the COVID-19 process, because this is the only way for us to break the chain of COVID-19," he continued.