Saudi Arabia reopens mosques with strict regulations for worshippers

Saudi Arabia's mosques opened their doors to worshippers on Sunday for the first time in more than two months, as the kingdom eased restrictions on movement to control the spread of the coronavirus. People rushed to mosques for dawn prayers wearing their masks and each holding personal prayer mats.

They stood apart from each other to maintain social distancing. Saudi authorities said earlier this month that restrictions would be lifted in three phases, culminating in a curfew ending - with the exception of the holy city of Mecca - from June 21. Elders, children under 15, and those who have chronic diseases are banned from praying at mosques. People had to do cleaning parts of the body before prayers at their homes as mosque toilets and places for ablution remain closed. Saudi Arabia has so far recorded 83,300 infections and 480 deaths.