By Khairul Azran Hussin
SHAH ALAM, March 28 — The Selangor Task Force for Covid-19 (STFC) has suggested several guidelines following the permission to open non-Muslim houses of worship in the state.
Its member Dr Siti Mariah Mahmud said the management of non-Muslim houses of worship should adopt five measures to curb the spread of the pandemic:
1. Protect seniors or the elderly
– Provide a special place for high-risk groups aged 60 and above, set social distancing of two metres, wear face masks and ensure the ventilation system works properly.
2. More yet faster prayer rituals session with limited attendance
– Increase the number of prayer rituals session, but shorten its duration and limit the attendance for each session to a smaller number, do a sanitation process each time the session ends.
3. Utilise space or open space
– Covid-19 spread easily in dense, crowded and closed places, therefore management of non-Muslim houses of worship needs to be creative in using space or open space to accommodate visitors.
4. Precautionary measures for non-Muslim houses of worship with an enclosed ventilation
– Improve ventilation system by opening all windows and doors, implement two-metre social distancing as well as wearing face masks, while senior citizens are not encouraged to visit due to the high-risk.
5. Control visitors interaction in non-Muslim houses of worship
– The management must always remind visitors to conduct social interactions in other premises that are safer, more open and less crowded apart from not gathering before or after religious ceremonies are conducted.
