[ti:A Different Hajj amid the Virus] [by:www.51voa.com] [00:00.00]更多听力请访问51VOA.COM [00:00.04]Muslim pilgrims, wearing face coverings and moving in small groups, [00:07.00]began circling Islam's holiest site, the Kaaba, [00:12.04]in Mecca, Saudi Arabia on Wednesday. [00:16.16]During the hajj, the white floors that surround it [00:20.72]usually have hundreds of thousands of pilgrims from around the world. [00:27.00]But this year is different. [00:29.36]Only a small number of pilgrims — as few as 1,000 — could take part. [00:37.76]Ammar Khaled is a 29-year-old Indian pilgrim [00:42.48]who was born and raised in Saudi Arabia. [00:46.96]He said that although he is alone on the hajj, [00:50.92]he is praying for those he loves. [00:53.96]"Words aren't enough to explain how blessed I feel [00:58.56]and how amazing the arrangements have been," Khaled said. [01:04.04]Amr Al-Maddah is the chief planning officer at the Ministry of Hajj. [01:10.08]He said, "We are taking every step possible to make sure that this hajj [01:16.72]will end with zero cases of COVID-19 [01:20.68]and also with zero deaths in our total hajj numbers." [01:25.72]Before pilgrims could even enter Mecca, [01:28.88]they were tested for the virus, [01:31.68]required to self-isolate in hotel rooms, [01:35.56]and have their temperatures checked. [01:38.00]Each pilgrim is in a group with about 20 others. [01:43.00]A group leader will guide them throughout the hajj. [01:47.04]This will help limit any crowding in places [01:50.76]like the Grand Mosque, which houses the Kaaba. [01:55.64]While on Mount Arafat, where the Prophet Muhammad [01:59.56]is said to have delivered his final sermon nearly 1,400 years ago, [02:06.12]the pilgrims wear identity cards that connect to their phones. [02:11.84]The card stores the pilgrims' personal information, [02:16.56]health data, and other hajj-related details. [02:20.56]It permits the Saudi government to easily monitor the pilgrims. [02:26.08]It also gives pilgrims a way to contact their group leader [02:31.16]and make special meal requests. [02:34.12]Pilgrims were also given special clothes to wear during the hajj. [02:40.52]The clothes contain silver that helps kill bacteria. [02:45.04]They were also provided with prayer rugs, umbrellas, [02:49.72]towels, soaps, sanitizers and other necessities. [02:56.48]This year marks the first time in many years [03:00.60]that people from outside Saudi Arabia [03:03.92]do not take part in the five-day hajj. [03:07.88]Al-Maddah said permitting people to enter Saudi Arabia from abroad [03:13.76]would have created possible health risks. [03:17.52]This year, two-thirds of pilgrims are foreigners already living in Saudi Arabia. [03:25.08]These foreigners come from among the 160 different nationalities [03:31.72]that would have normally been on the hajj. [03:35.16]The other one-third are Saudi security and medical officials. [03:41.08]All have to be between the ages of 20 and 50 [03:45.28]and have no serious illnesses. [03:48.48]"For us, safety comes first," al-Maddah said. [03:53.04]"We are employing technology to make sure that these services [03:57.68]and these precautions are met and delivered in the highest standard." [04:03.80]I'm John Russell. 更多听力请访问51VOA.COM