Saudi closes eight more mosques over Covid-19 fears

Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Islamic Affairs, Call and Guidance temporarily closed eight more mosques across the country on Friday as coronavirus cases continue to climb.

Imams of the mosques are also joining efforts to combat the virus, urging worshippers to take precautionary measures seriously and calling it a “religious and national duty.”

Over the past five days, 52 mosques have shut their doors because of confirmed COVID-19 cases. Of those closed mosques, 38 had previously completed sanitization procedures to ensure the health of worshippers.

The ministry has intensified its efforts to monitor all mosques facilities where Friday prayers are held in an attempt to limit the spread of the virus. Mosque supervisors and employees, in coordination with security authorities, NGOs and charitable institutions, are organizing the entry for worshippers into the mosques and checking temperature on entry. Sanitizers and hygiene tools are also provided by local companies.

The Jeddah municipality has also stepped up efforts to combat the virus. Jeddah carried out 4,523 inspection tours within 19 submunicipalities to make sure facilities and commercial centers were adhering to the precautionary measures.