Togo has become the second West African nation to enforce Covid-19 screening tests and mask mandates for pilgrims returning from the annual hajj pilgrimage in Mecca.
Senegal was the first in the region to introduce voluntary testing, suspecting that many of the roughly 1,300 deaths recorded by Saudi Arabia were linked to respiratory illnesses like Covid-19.
In a statement on Friday, the Togolese government announced mandatory Covid-19 tests for hajj pilgrims, along with requirements to minimize contact, wear masks, maintain regular hygiene practices, and avoid large gatherings for 10 days after their return.
Saudi Arabia’s SPA news agency reported 1,301 deaths during the pilgrimage, attended by approximately 1.8 million people from around the world, amidst extreme temperatures reaching up to 51.8 degrees Celsius (125 degrees Fahrenheit). Over 80% of pilgrims engaged in predominantly outdoor rituals were unauthorized and endured long walks under direct sunlight.
About 18% of Togo’s population of eight million is Muslim. This year, around 2,500 Togolese citizens traveled to Saudi Arabia for the hajj, departing in June and returning between June 29 and July 3 on government-chartered flights in this small coastal nation adjacent to Ghana.
