COVID19: Islamic Ministry ban congregational prayers in Maldives

Ministry of Islamic Affairs on Sunday, 19 April 2020, announced a ban on congregational prayers across Maldives.

Moments ago, the ministry released a statement announcing the decision was unanimous from its highest committee on Fatwah with the support of religious clerics.

Ministry of Islamic Affairs have banned congregational prayers across the entire country commencing from Sunday's Maqrib (dusk) prayers until the Asr (late afternoon) prayer on 30 April, Thursday.

The ministy decreed the ban on all mandatory (Fard) and Tarawih prayers which attract congregations.

Imams of mosques are provided exemption to attend mosques to call out the Azan (call for the prayer), along with a mandatory advisory post Azan advising the public to attend their prayers from home.

Earlier the ministry announced a ban on congregational prayers in Greater Male' Region following the COVID-19 viral pandemic reaching the island nation.

With the confirmation of positive cases in Maldives capital, Male' City, health officials have speculated on the possibility of contact persons' cluster expanding across the country.

Maldives government on Wednesday, declared a total lockdown on Greater Male' Region with the discovery of the first positive case from the area.

Since then the total number of positive cases found form Male' area have risen to 31 while the total number of cases reported from Maldives have reached 51.