Sun Sentinel Palm Beach Edition
Mosques reopen in Saudi Arabia, Jerusalem
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates — Tens of thousands of mosques across Saudi Arabia reopened Sunday for the first time in more than two months, with worshippers ordered to follow strict guidelines to prevent the spread of the coronavirus as Islam’s holiest site in Mecca remained closed to the public.
The Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem — Islam’s holiest site outside Saudi Arabia — also reopened for prayers for the first time since it was closed in mid-March.
With little regard for social distancing, throngs waited outside the holy site’s gates before it opened early Sunday, with many wearing surgical masks. As they were allowed to enter, the faithful stopped to have their temperature measured.
The mosque was one of Jerusalem’s many holy sites, including the Church of the Holy Sepulcher and the Western Wall, whose access was restricted at the height of Israel’s coronavirus outbreak. Throughout that period, worshippers continued to pray in the alleyways outside the mosque.
In Saudi Arabia, the government prepared for the reopening of around 90,000 mosques after sanitizing prayer rugs, washrooms and shelves holding copies of the Quran.
The Ministry of Islamic Affairs said millions of texts were sent to people in multiple languages to inform them about the new rules for public prayer, which include keeping a six-foot distance between people during prayer, wearing face masks at all times and abstaining from greeting one another with handshakes or hugs.
Children under 15 were not being allowed inside mosques. The elderly and those with chronic conditions were told to pray at home.
Despite taking early measures to curb the spread of the virus, Saudi Arabia has recorded more than 85,000 people contracting the virus. Over 500 have died.