COVID-19: UAE suspends prayers in all places of worship, calls for wedding receptions to be delayed

The United Arab Emirates has suspended prayers in all places of worship in the country from 9pm on Mar 16 for four weeks in another measure to control the spread of the COVID-19.

The decision will be reviewed and re-assessed after four weeks, said the National Emergency Crisis and Disaster Management Authority and the General Authority of Islamic Affairs and Endowments on Monday (Mar 16).

Authorities have also called for all wedding receptions and social activities in all venues, including hotels, to be delayed effective Mar 18 for a period of four weeks.

The Ministry of Health and Prevention and the National Emergency Crisis and Disaster Management Authority said that if a delay is not possible then all precautionary measures must be strictly applied during wedding receptions, including that invitations be limited to immediate family members, and distance between any two attendees must be no less than two metres. Contact such as handshakes, hugs or kissing should also be avoided, said the two authorities.

UAE has been implementing a range of preventive and precautionary measures to mitigate the spread of the COVID-19 since the World Health Organisation declared it a pandemic on Mar 11.

© SalaamGateway.com 2020 All Rights Reserved