Islam's holiest site was completely emptied over fears of coronavirus for sterilization.

Saudi Arabia halted the pilgrimage for its own citizens and residents on Wednesday, on top of restrictions announced last week on foreign pilgrims.

Images of an empty white-tiled area surrounding the Kaaba – a large black cube structure inside Makkah’s Grand Mosque – which is usually packed with tens of thousands of pilgrims were shared.

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(AP Photo/Amr Nabil).

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Muslim worshippers wait for sunset prayers outside at the Grand Mosque, in the Muslim holy city of Mecca, Saudi Arabia, Friday, March 6, 2020.

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A relatively few number of Muslims pray around the Kaaba, the cubic building at the Grand Mosque, in the Muslim holy city of Mecca, Saudi Arabia, Thursday, March 5, 2020.

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Workers clean the Grand Mosque, during the minor pilgrimage, known as Umrah, in the Muslim holy city of Mecca, Saudi Arabia, Monday, March 2, 2020.

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In this picture taken with a slow shutter speed, far smaller crowds than usual of Muslim pilgrims circumambulate the Kaaba, the cubic building at the Grand Mosque, in the Muslim holy city of Mecca, Saudi Arabia, Wednesday, March 4, 2020.