The move is the latest drastic precautionary measure taken by countries in the Middle East in a bid to curb the spread of the deadly virus.
Saudia Arabia has temporarily banned foreigners from entering Mecca and Medina, two of Islam's holiest pilgrimage sites, in a bid to prevent the spread of the coronavirus.
The deadly virus, which was first identified in Wuhan, Hubei province, China, has infected at least 81,109 people globally, around 78,191 of whom are in China. There have been at least 2,718 deaths reported in the country, according to a February 26 report by the World Health Organization . The holy city is home to the Great Mosque, the world's largest mosque, while the city of Medina, houses the Prophet's Mosque, the second holiest Islamic site in the world after the Great Mosque.
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