Muscat: The Supreme Committee tasked with dealing with the Coronavirus (COVID-19) has issued a set of directives for worshippers to follow as they go back to mosques for prayers.

These include:

1) A worshipper should avoid going to the mosque if they show any symptoms of COVID-19 or if such symptoms are experienced by one of their family members. This is also true for those who have mingled with infected patients.

2) Mosques have to be opened at Call-for-Prayer Time (Adhan) and must remain open only for 25 minutes, inclusive of Adhan, prayer, and leaving the mosque.

3) Holy Quran books (Masahif) have to be kept away and not used by worshippers.

4) Water coolers (fridges) have to be shut down.

5) All toilets must be closed.

6) Worshippers have to bring their own prayer mats.

7) Worshippers have to sanitise their hands before coming to the mosque and after leaving it.

8) Worshippers have to keep wearing face masks all the time when they are inside the mosque.

9) Worshippers have to observe social-distancing of not less than 1.5 meters.

10) Mosque management and supervisors have to ensure that all worshippers adhere to the strict measures taken by the Supreme Committee, and other precautionary measures enlisted in the “Instructional Guide and Procedures for Mosque Preparation and Equipment” issued by the Ministry of Awqaf and Religious Affairs.

Source: ONA