Abstract
The recent outbreak of the novel COVID-19 is posing a severe public health risk across the globe. The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) is one of the greatest destinations of religious congregations of Muslims. One of the largest religious gatherings is the Hajj that is anticipated to produce serious challenges of mass level exposures and spread to every corner of the world. Therefore, it is highly recommended that the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah (KSA), must regularly analyze the prevailing situation of COVID-19, and involve the religious scholars to make appropriate decisions about Hajj 2020. Although the Saudi government has been continuously taking all possible measures to contain the pandemic, people's cooperation is crucial in the fight against COVID-19.
•This paper is about the possible risk of COVID-19 transmission from the world’s biggest religious mass gathering.•The religious mass gatherings may turn into potential superspreader of the pandemic in the other Muslim majority countries.•COVID-19 has infected the people who had a travel history and it may lead to local as well as global transmissions in the countries from where the people are coming to perform the religious rituals and vice versa.