Measuring the impact of suspending Umrah, a global mass gathering in Saudi Arabia on the COVID‑19 pandemic

Abstract

This article uses a stratified SEIR epidemic model to evaluate the impact of Umrah, a global Muslim pilgrimage to Mecca, on the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic during the month of Ramadan, the peak of the Umrah season. The analyses provide insights into the effects of global mass gatherings on the progression of the COVID-19 pandemic locally and globally