MAKKAH — About 1,560 mosques in Makkah, both small and large, are set to open their doors to receive worshipers starting at dawn prayers next Sunday, after a 90-day disruption, due to the precautionary and preventive measures to counter the outbreak of the new coronavirus COVID-19 infection. The branch of the Ministry of Islamic Affairs in Makkah Province has prepared all mosques and large mosques, on condition that all the precautionary measures are implemented, such as single-use prayer rugs, the implementation of safe spacing between rows, as well as complying with the mandatory social distancing between worshipers. A number of volunteers participated in the "Preparing Mosques" Initiative as a support for the efforts of the concerned authorities to furnish the mosques for worshipers in the districts and neighborhoods of Makkah, in line with the precautionary and preventive measures and directives set by the Ministry of Islamic Affairs, Call and Guidance and the Ministry of Health. The Executive Director of the Azizia District Center in Makkah, Ibrahim Melli, said that the initiative aims to prepare the mosques and large mosques of Makkah to receive worshipers and place spacing stickers, and contribute to educating worshipers on safety controls and conditions, during the resumption of congregational prayers in the mosques. Meanwhile, on behalf of the Services Agency, the General Administration for Social Services — Municipal Volunteering Administration of the Holy Capital Mayoralty, in cooperation with the branch of the Ministry of Islamic Affairs, Call and Guidance in Makkah Province has carried out work on the implementation of the precautionary measures. These included placing stickers on the carpets to ensure abidance by the mandatory social distancing between worshipers and collecting the copies of Holy Qur'an from the shelves. All these come within the sphere of an integrated program to ensure implementation of the precautionary and preventive measures to curb the spread of the COVID-19 virus.
