Following a confirmation meeting with Islamic organizations and relevant parties and in consideration of astronomical calculations and the new moon observation, the government announced on Monday that this year’s Ramadan would start on Tuesday.

The government reminded Muslims to avoid large gatherings during prayers and the collection and distribution of alms. Last year, many congregants across the country continued to perform tarawih (Ramadan evening prayers) in mosques during the first few days of the fasting month despite the government’s official advisory and partial lockdown policies in several regions that required worship from home. Many flocked to traditional markets as Ramadan started, and some villagers even began the month early.

Read also: Indonesian Muslims hold congregational Ramadan prayers despite COVID-19 warnings

This year, the government is allowing Muslims to perform prayers, including congregational tarawih, in places of worship, but has limited attendance to a maximum of 50 percent of capacity, with notes on a strict application of health protocols.

In a circular released recently, Religious Affairs Minister Yaqut Cholil Qoumas called on his regional officials and local mosque managers around the country to provide COVID-19-risk-free worship guidelines to the people.

The ministry said healthy Muslims were still encouraged to fast according to religious provisions, but it has asked that iftar and sahur (predawn) meals be held in their respective homes with their immediate family. Nevertheless, joint iftar events can still be held at 50 percent of the venue capacity.

The duration of religious recitations or Ramadan sermons is limited to 15 minutes, while mosque officials are obliged to make clear to all congregations about health protocols, carry out regular disinfections and provide facilities for handwashing at the entrances.

The commemoration of Nuzulul Quran (the revelation day of the Quran), which usually takes place in mosques, can be held indoors and outdoors with congregations limited to 50 percent of the venue capacity, but congregants are also required to strictly observe health protocols.

These provisions, according to Yaqut, do not apply for red and orange zones -- regions with high or moderate COVID-19 risks where Ramadan-related activities in mosques are fully banned -- and may change if the national COVID-19 task force or local administrations report a worsening outbreak.

“Please pray while adhering to health protocols so that we can worship safely without being exposed to the risk of COVID-19,” Yaqut said on Monday.

Read also: Pandemic forces Muslims to forgo Ramadan traditions

Referring to Yaqut’s circular, Jakarta Governor Anies Baswedan appealed to Muslims in the capital to always wear masks and not force their way into a mosque if the capacity exceeds the limit.

“After one year of the pandemic, there is certainly a desire to perform tarawih together at the mosque. Let’s not waste this blessed month by remaining disciplined in implementing health protocols,” he wrote on Instagram on Sunday.

As preparation for Ramadan, the Jakarta administration, with the help of district officials and residents, disinfected 317 mosques on Sunday morning, according to Anies. Social distancing markers have been installed and hand sanitizers have been prepared.

The Health Ministry will maintain the vaccine rollout throughout the fasting month, intending to especially ramp up inoculation of the elderly to anticipate a spike of cases during mudik, the Idul Fitri homebound exodus.

Vaccination on the elderly continues to lag behind that of public service and essential workers, with only 2 million out of the targeted 21.5 million seniors having received their first jab since the rollout began in February.

The ministry’s spokesperson Siti Nadia Tarmizi expressed her concern during a press briefing on Monday about an observed increase in people’s mobility to their hometowns since the start of the month, which could expose elderly people to the virus.

The government, however, has banned the exodus from May 6 to 17, with a transportation ban also in effect, although with several exemptions. Authorities have also cut collective leave days to reduce mobility.

“To anticipate a spike in cases, one of the government’s key strategies right now is to speed up vaccination of the elderly, especially in the destination regions of the exodus,” Siti said.

Read also: Indonesian government promises big, then falters in vaccine procurement

Senior citizens can now receive their jab at their nearest health facility and vaccination centers by bringing their identity cards regardless of their residential address and without having to present letters proving where they live.

According to Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI) head of fatwa Asrorun Niam Sholeh, Muslims eligible for COVID-19 vaccinations are not only allowed but “required” to get coronavirus shots during Ramadan.

Although Muslims abstain from all food and drink in daylight hours during the fasting month, he said that the vaccine that went into the muscle rather than the bloodstream was not nutritious, so it did not invalidate fasting as long as it did not cause harm.

“Muslims [therefore] are required to participate in the COVID-19 vaccination program implemented by the government to achieve group immunity and get free from the COVID-19 outbreak,” he said in a recent statement.

Nevertheless, he called on vaccine officials to take into consideration the physical condition of Muslims during the fasting month, recommending that vaccinations be carried out at night rather than during the day.

In response, Nadia said there should not be any health concerns about vaccination during fasting so long as recipients had sufficient rest, as well as nutrient intake during predawn meals. She said vaccination could be carried out both during the day and at night, with possible shorter operational hours following an adjustment of medical workers’ working hours during the fasting month.

Vaccination centers provided by the State-Owned Enterprises Ministry in five cities -- Jakarta, Central Java's Semarang and Banyumas, East Java's Surabaya and West Java's Bandung -- will reduce their operational hours to only between 7 a.m. and 2 p.m. starting on April 13.

The centers in Jakarta will be closed on the first day of the fasting month, and all of the centers in the five cities will be closed during Idul Fitri on May 12 and 13. These centers mainly focus on vaccinating the elderly by working with local administrations, having inoculated 416,000 people so far.

The government is also encouraging spending during Ramadan to boost the economic recovery through various efforts, including by providing incentives for businesses to make sure they give employees’ their annual bonuses. Consumer spending amounting to Rp 215 trillion (US$14 billion) is expected to occur during Ramadan.

The government is also boosting the distribution of social aid during the holy month, with Rp 14.12 trillion prepared for the acceleration of its programs.