Ramadan in time of COVID-19: Muslims urged to observe activities at home

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Health (DOH) on Thursday urged Muslims to observe Ramadan activities in their homes as the country continues to grapple with the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) crisis.

Ramadan is observed in the ninth month of the Islamic calendar where Muslims across the world fast from dawn to dusk, pray, and give alms. It will officially start on Friday.

Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said that the National Commission on Muslim Filipinos has already released an order suspending temporarily this year the Taraweeh or community prayers for Ramadan in prayer rooms and mosques in the whole country.

“Sa halip, hinihikayat na magdasal sa kaniya-kaniyang tahanan at manatili sa loob ng bahay sa buong panahon ng Ramadan at ECQ,” Vergeire said in an online press briefing.

(Instead, we are encouraging everyone to pray in their own homes and to stay in their houses during the Ramadan and the ECQ.)

Luzon is currently under an extended lockdown to prevent the further spread of COVID-19. It was supposed to lapse on April 13 but President Duterte approved the proposal to extend it for two more weeks or until April 30.

The order stopped all public transportation, banned mass gatherings, and strictly enforced home quarantine as work for the majority of the region’s residents was suspended.

People are only allowed to go out for the provision of food and other basic necessities and in cases of emergency.