Despite Urging To Obey Government Regulations, Mosques In West Jakarta Allow Congregants To Remove Masks

Illustration of congregational prayers at the mosque in Ramadan 2021. (Antara)

JAKARTA - The rules for wearing masks in open areas have been relaxed. But not in closed areas because the COVID-19 pandemic is still not over.

The manager of the Hasyim Asy'ari Grand Mosque in Cengkareng, West Jakarta also, appealed to all congregants who perform prayers at the mosque to continue to wear masks.

"The rules for the congregation of the Hasyim Asy'ari Mosque are still wearing masks, because their prayers are indoors," said the Head of the Hasyim Asy'ari Grand Mosque Integrated Management Unit, Dikki when contacted in Jakarta, Friday, May 20.

However, his party did not prohibit worshipers from removing their masks if they were in the mosque's courtyard.

So far, said Dikki, no regulations have changed in the area of the Hasyim Asy'ari Grand Mosque. It enforces prayers without distance in the mosque.

His party also opened the full capacity of the mosque so that it could accommodate 2,500 people during worship. Although it has been opened, Dikki admitted that so far the number of worshipers who pray has not reached 2,500 in one day.

"There has been no increase, there are still 800 worshipers for Friday prayers today," he said.

The West Jakarta City Government (Pemkot) is still waiting for a regulation or Decree (SK) of the Governor of DKI Jakarta Anies Baswedan regarding a policy that allows residents not to wear masks when doing outdoor activities.

"We are waiting for the governor to state the same thing and then the mayor because (for free) masks, regional leaders can decide," said Acting Head of the West Jakarta Health Sub-dept., Yudi Dimyati, when confirmed in Jakarta, Wednesday 18 May.