UPDATE 2-Saudi Arabia suspends pilgrimages for Saudi citizens and residents

(Adds quote, changes dateline to Riyadh from Dubai)
RIYADH March 4 (Reuters) - Saudi Arabia, which has already
suspended pilgrimages to the two holy cities of Mecca and Medina
for foreigners due to coronavirus concerns, extended the ban on
Wednesday to Saudi citizens and residents, state news agency SPA
reported.
Saudi Arabia reported its first case of the new coronavirus
on Monday from an individual who had not disclosed his visit to
Iran when entering Saudi Arabia. "Based on the recommendations of the committee appointed to
monitor coronavirus...it has been decided to suspend umrah for
citizens and residents in the kingdom," SPA said, citing an
official source in the Saudi interior ministry.
Umrah refers to pilgrimage rites carried out in the holy
cities throughout the year, and is separate from the annual
week-long haj, which typically draws 2 million Muslims from
around the world. Haj starts this year in late July.
The decision will be reviewed regularly and reversed when
the situation changes, SPA added.
Saudis and residents can still visit Mecca and Medina and
pray there, provided they do not go for the purpose of umrah,
deputy haj minister Abdulfattah Mashat told Al Arabiya TV on
Wednesday.
"Mecca is still open to visitors from across the kingdom,
the decision suspends only umrah activities," he said.
Saudi Arabia last week halted umrah visas for foreigners and
banned Gulf citizens from visiting the two cities because of the
virus. It also barred tourists from at least 25 countries where the
virus has been found, and on Tuesday it limited arrivals of
travelers from the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries.
Pilgrimage is big business for Saudi Arabia and is the
backbone of plans to develop tourism under Crown Prince Mohammed
bin Salman's economic reform agenda.
Visits by pilgrims accelerate during the holy fasting month
of Ramadan, beginning this year in late April.