Due to a devastating surge in Covid-19 cases over the course of the past weeks, authorities have decided to close off mosques in the capital region.

The Ministry of Islamic Affairs issued a statement on Wednesday, revealing that mosques will be closed to the public from Thursday onwards.

The decision comes at the heels of the government’s decision to strengthen measures and extend the curfew period across the capital city from 4pm to 8am.

Prior to making the announcement the ministry had consulted with the Fatwa Council on closing off mosques, and despite this the ministry has urged the public to not miss prayers and pay heed to praying five times a day even if they are unable to attend congregational prayers.

Since the pandemic began sweeping across the archipelago nation in March 2020, authorities had suspended congregational prayers in the capital region previously as well.

Since Wednesday, only those who have the required household permits to go out during a specific period between 8am and 4pm are allowed to go out for essential purposes. Officers of the Maldives Police Service and Maldives National Defense Force (MNDF) are active across the capital region to enforce the measures implemented by the Health Protection Agency (HPA) to control the spread of coronavirus across Maldives.