Saudi Arabia made the historic decision to suspend travel to Islam’s holiest sites in Mecca and Medina as fears of a global coronavirus pandemic loom large.

The move was announced on Thursday, and it affects the millions of Muslims outside the country who travel to Mecca each year for the Umrah pilgrimage. There are also concerns that the virus, officially known as the COVID-19 virus, could affect the annual 10-day hajj, which also attracts millions of people a year.

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