Bengaluru: In a bid to prevent COVID-19, the Karnataka State Board of Auqaf, Bengaluru, has issued a press note recommending precautionary steps to be taken at all Mosques, Dargahs and other religious institutions to contain the pandemic. A meeting, attended by Government officials, Auqaf officials and doctors on Wednesday, has decided on a series of steps to be taken including cleaning of Mosques and concluding the prayers within 15 minutes for the next three weeks.

The recommendations include, Mosques and its surrounding area be kept clean, soap or hand wash be made available to all who attend prayers at the ablution place, avoid keeping caps and towels in Mosques, precautionary measures be taken to maintain hygiene, Madrasas/ Makatib be closed on par with the directives of the Government for Schools and Colleges, vicinity of Dargahs  be kept clean, not to allow huge crowds to stay, Jamath Salah (Prayer) be offered in minimum time and disbursed at the earliest, duration of Salah (prayer) be minimised, Friday sermons be shortened like in Middle East countries, Bayan/ Khutba (Sermon) for 10 minutes and Salah (prayer) for 10 minutes, ljtema and Traditional Urus be celebrated with minimum attendance. 

Also, persons suffering from respiratory or immunity related issues are requested to avoid coming into public places and at Mosques, Madrasas/ Makatib and Dargahs, according to a press release from the Board Chairman Dr. Mohammed Yousuff. For details, call: 080-22264594 / 95 or Fax: 080-22255663.