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PETALING JAYA: The government has decided to stand by the earlier announcement by the health ministry on the suspension of all umrah trips from Jan 8 but states that it will only be for a month.

The decision by the Cabinet was announced by health minister Khairy Jamaluddin in a press conference today.

“However, a risk evaluation within and outside the country, especially Saudi Arabia, will be carried out from time to time before umrah trips are allowed to resume,” he said.

Fears over the high number of Covid-19 Omicron variant cases discovered among those returning from Mecca led to last week’s announcement by Khairy on the temporary suspension of all umrah trips from Jan 8.

Meanwhile, pilgrims who have just returned from umrah must undergo quarantine at designated hotels or government-run quarantine centres.