The Ministry of Islamic Affairs has revealed that congregational prayers are to be allowed in the Maldives capital, Greater Malé Region from Maghrib prayer on Wednesday.

The Health Protection Agency (HPA) initiated the third phase of the lockdown ease plan across the region on July 1, under which mosques are to be opened for congregational prayers in the capital region.

As such, the ministry has provided guidelines relevant to the measures to be enforced in mosques, having released a circular which notes instructions and guidelines to be followed by the city council as well as worshippers in visiting mosques.

The city council is required to pay heed to disinfecting and cleaning the mosques, establish hand-washing facilities as well as installing carpets where they have been removed in mosques.

Further, the city council is to ensure the air conditioners at mosques are turned off unless completely necessary.

Worshippers are required to bring their own prayer mats and wear face masks at all times.

Those who are at high-risk of the global Covid-19 pandemic as well as those who exhibit symptoms of the deadly virus are urged not to visit mosques for prayers in congregation.

Each prayer is required to be performed in less than six minutes, said the ministry.

On June 15, the government allowed congregational prayers across the entire Maldives except the capital region and two other islands at risk of the pandemic.

The ministry has urged worshippers to make ablutions or “Wudu” from home and ensure social distancing.

The suspension of congregational prayers was imposed on March 18 and it was extended and set to end on June 11, following the extension of the State of Public Health Emergency declared across the nation on March 12, several times.