COVID-19: Thailand Allows Congregational Prayers at Mosques

BANGKOK, June 5 (Bernama) -- The Office of the Sheikhul Islam of Thailand has allowed congregational obligatory prayers to be carried out at mosques in the kingdom effective Friday (June 5), provided that preventive measures for curbing COVID-19 outbreak are implemented. In a statement, Sheikhul Islam of Thailand Aziz Phitakkumpon said as the situation in the kingdom has improved and more restrictions have been eased, the Office of the Sheikhul Islam agreed to allow congregational prayers at mosques nationwide. “Before entering mosques, worshippers must wear face masks, have their temperature taken, and made to use hand sanitisers. “Besides that, worshippers are required to perform their ablution at home, bring their own prayer mats, and maintain a distance of one to two metres from each other. “Worshippers must wear face masks and observe the social distancing rule during prayer,” he said in a statement. Aziz said officers at the mosques must provide a form for individuals to register their names and contact number for contact tracing. “Mosques must open 15 minutes before and close 15 minutes after prayer,” he said. He added that the mosques’ committee members must ensure that all the preventive measures are fully complied with. Congregational and Friday prayers in Thailand were temporarily banned after the country implemented the state of emergency starting March 26 – which prohibited mass gatherings, among others – to halt the spread of COVID-19. Aziz added that the number of attendees at ‘akad nikah’ or marriage solemnisation ceremonies must be limited to not more than 50. -- BERNAMA