GENEVA — The World Health Organization (WHO) on Wednesday said it supported Saudi Arabia's move to hold a limited Hajj this year, saying putting health first is a choice all countries must make during the coronavirus pandemic.

Speaking during a press conference on Wednesday, Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO) Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus welcomed Saudi Arabia’s decision to allow a very limited number of pilgrims of different nationalities who are currently inside the Kingdom to perform this year’s Hajj.

The WHO chief said that the decision was made based on a risk assessment and analysis of different scenarios in accordance with WHO guidance to protect the safety of pilgrims and minimize the risk of transmission.

“WHO supports this decision. We understand that it was not an easy decision to make, and we also understand it is a major disappointment for many Muslims who were looking forward to making their pilgrimage this year,” the WHO chief said.

“This is another example of the hard choices that all countries must make to put health first,” he added. — Agencies