UAE officials and the National Emergency Crisis and Disaster Management Authority (NCEMA) have announced that mosques and other places of worship will gradually reopen from July 1.
Dr Saif Al Dhaheri, an official spokesperson of the NCEMA said that all information and new regulations related to the gradual reopening of the houses of worship will be published by the relevant authorities.
For reopening mosques, the government put in place the following rules:
• All houses of worship will be limited to 30 percent capacity;
• Ablution must be done at home;
• Worshippers have to take their own prayer mat and take them when they leave. Qurans must be read on their own electronic devices or brought from home. The common use of Qurans at mosques will be prohibited;
• Masks and gloves will need to be worn at all times;
• Three-meter distance between worshipers must be maintained. There will be left row between each prayer line for further safety;
• Food and any other items must not be allocated;
• Seniors over the age of 60, children under the age of 12, and those with chronic illnesses should refrain from going outdoors to pray;
• Temperatures will be checked before entry;
• Church will also provide regular sanitization.
As said, all other worship places won’t renew operation at 100 percent attendance. Also, there will be a pre-registration system and a limited number of services presented. Those who would like to attend their house of worship will need to get details on the rules, regulations, and reopening dates at their worship place.
Novel Coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2, also known as COVID-19) is a new strain of coronavirus which is causing illness in humans and animals. Most people infected with the COVID-19 coronavirus will feel mild to moderate respiratory illness and recover without any special treatment. Older people, as well as those with underlying medical problems like cardiovascular disease, chronic respiratory disease, cancer or diabetes, are more likely to develop serious illness, and require immediate assistance. Novel Coronavirus was first identified in a cluster with pneumonia symptoms in Wuhan city, Hubei province of China, quickly spreading around the world. On early March 2020, the coronavirus COVID-19 pandemic had officially started, becoming the defining global health crisis of our time. Today, it is the greatest challenge people have faced since World War II, worsened by subsequent lockdowns of whole countries, collapse of entire industries, and a major economic recession.