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COVID-19: Indonesian Mosque Council tells ailing Muslims to pray at home
The Jakarta Archdiocese similarly called on churchgoers suffering from respiratory illnesses to pray at home
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Istiqlal Mosque in Central Jakarta (Shutterstock/Herdik Herlambang)
T
he Indonesian Mosque Council (DMI) has called on Muslims who are ill to refrain from praying at mosques as a precautionary measure to prevent the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19).
DMI chairman and former vice president Jusuf Kalla issued a statement on Tuesday to regional authorities as well as takmir (mosque managements) to participate in COVID-19 containment efforts in Indonesia, which is home to at least 800,000 mosques.
"[We are] requesting that Muslims suffering from cough, fever and flu or common cold to pray at home until they recover," he said.
He also advised that Muslims bring their own sajadah (praying mats) to mosques to prevent infection.
Kalla also called on mosque managements to routinely maintain the hygiene of mosques by disinfecting floors and toilets and cleaning praying mats.
Indonesia recently reported two confirmed COVID-19 cases. The infected patients are currently undergoing treatment at the isolation ward of Sulianti Saroso Infectious Diseases Hospital, Jakarta.
The new strain of coronavirus can spread from person to person through droplets from the nose or mouth when a person with COVID-19 coughs or exhales. It can also be transmitted by touching objects or surfaces where these droplets land before touching the eyes, nose or mouth.
Following the confirmed cases, the Jakarta administration announced that it would limit mass gatherings, while the Jakarta Archdiocese called on churchgoers suffering from respiratory illnesses to pray at home. (ars)
