MAKASSAR, Indonesia (AP) — Indonesia halted a mass congregation of nearly 9,000 Muslim pilgrims and began quarantining and checking their health Thursday to prevent the spread of the new coronavirus. The four-day gathering that was to open later Thursday at a boarding school in a rural area in south Sulawesi island wasn’t approved by authorities and drew fears it could widely spread the virus in the world’s fourth most populous nation.

MEXICO CITY (AP) — Mexico’s bishops said Friday the Vatican had suspended a clerical sex abuse fact-finding and assistance mission to Mexico due to the spreading coronavirus in Italy and now the Vatican. The Mexican Episcopal Conference said in a statement the Holy See had suspended all foreign activities after registering its first positive test Thursday. The Vatican announced no such ban publicly and the Vatican spokesman didn’t immediately return messages seeking comment.

TEHRAN, Iran (AP) — The coronavirus outbreak disrupted Islamic treasure in the Middle East as Saudi Arabia on Wednesday banned its voters and other residents of the kingdom from performing the pilgrimage in Mecca, whereas Iran canceled Friday prayers in principal cities. The choices in Riyadh and Tehran affected each and each Sunni and Shiite Muslims alike. The Saudi transfer expands a ban final week on foreigners visiting Mecca and Medina, residence to the holiest sites in Islam.