OKU Regency Government Allows Congregational Prayers At Mosques During Ramadan

Illustration (Photo: Antara)

BATURAJA - The district government of Ogan Komering Ulu, South Sumatra, has allowed Muslims in the area to pray in congregation at the mosque during the holy month of Ramadan this year.

"This policy is in line with central government regulations that allow congregational Tarawih prayers outside the home during Ramadan 2022," said Secretary of the Ogan Komering Ulu (OKU) COVID-19 Task Force, Amzar Kristopa in Baturaja, as reported by Antara, Thursday, March 31.

Even though in the midst of a pandemic, he said, OKU residents were allowed to carry out worship activities at the mosque, but they were limited to only 50 percent of their capacity according to the regional status level.

"The OKU status is at level 2 PPKM. So the congregation is limited to 50 percent," he said.

Worship in mosques continues to apply health protocols such as the obligation to wear masks and maintain distance between worshipers. Managers of mosques and prayer rooms are also asked to provide health protocol equipment such as preparing a place for washing hands and measuring body temperature for the congregation.

Acting Head of the OKU Health Service, Andi Prapto separately added, ahead of Ramadan his party was sterilizing a number of mosques and prayer rooms by spraying disinfectant liquid to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

He explained that spraying disinfectants in places of worship is one of the implementations of the Micro Community Activity Restrictions (PPKM) implemented by the local government to reduce the spread of the Corona virus.

"In this Micro-based PPKM, the OKU Health Service focuses on implementing 3T, namely testing, treatment and contact tracing, including sterilizing places of worship from the spread of the Corona virus," he said.

This is done to provide a sense of security for Muslims from the spread of the Corona virus when carrying out congregational prayers and other religious activities in houses of worship during the holy month of Ramadan.