RIYADH - Saudi Arabia announced on Monday that only a limited number of pilgrims will be allowed to perform Hajj in the kingdom this season over the coronavirus concerns, the Saudi Press Agency (SPA) reported.

The decision was made given the increase in the number of cases in most countries and the risks of the virus spread in crowded gatherings, the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah was quoted by SPA as saying.

Saudi Arabia has so far registered a total of 161,005 COVID-19 infections, with 54,523 active cases including 2,045 critical ones.