JAKARTA - A number of religious organizations have begun to urge the public to carry out religious activities at home, along with the increasing number of COVID-19 cases in the country.
One of them is Nahdlatul Ulama (PBNU) which asks people to avoid gathering activities and to worship at home.
In line with the appeal, the Minister of Religion (Menag) Yaqut Cholil Qoumas said the Ministry of Religion had issued a circular regarding restrictions on religious activities to prevent the spread of COVID-19 cases.
Through Circular (SE) No. 13 of 2021 concerning Restrictions on the Implementation of Religious Activities in Houses of Worship, the Minister of Religion hopes that religious people can continue to carry out worship activities while maintaining the safety of their souls by adjusting the current conditions in their area.
"I have issued a circular, as a guide for efforts to prevent, control, and break the chain of the spread of COVID-19 in places of worship", said Minister of Religion Yaqut when confirmed regarding worship guidelines during the pandemic, Friday, June 18.
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The Minister of Religion said that religious activities were temporarily suspended in areas with Corona red zone status. The determination of the change in the zone area is carried out by the respective regional governments.
This means that residents in the red zone are asked to carry out their worship activities at home.
"Socio-religious and community activities, such as public recitations, gatherings, weddings, and the like in the multipurpose room within the house of worship are also temporarily suspended in the red and orange zones until conditions get better", explained Minister of Religion Yaqut.
The Minister of Religion emphasized that worship activities in places of worship in areas that are declared safe may only be carried out by residents of the local environment. Of course, while still implementing strict COVID-19 health protocol standards.
For the technical implementation, said the Minister of Religion, the Ministry of Religion has regulated it through the Circular Letter of the Minister of Religion Number SE. 1 of 2020 concerning the Implementation of the COVID-19 Handling Protocol in Houses of Worship.
Minister of Religion Yaqut also asked his staff at the central level to monitor the implementation of this circular in stages. Likewise, the Heads of Regional Offices of the Ministry of Religion at the provincial, district/city levels, to religious leaders and organizations are required to carry out periodic supervision.
"Coordinate intensively with the local government and the local COVID-19 Task Force", he stressed.
Minister of Religion Yaqut also prays that all are always healthy in the midst of a pandemic situation that is currently surging.
"Pray for each other, and stay healthy always", said the Minister of Religion to VOI.
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