Egypt Opens Mosques for Friday Prayers

Arab World

August 20th, 9:05am

Cairo - Asharq Al-Awsat

FILE PHOTO: Men are seen walking at Al Moez street in al-Hussein and al-Azhar district as mosques are closed in old Islamic Cairo, as Egypt ramps up efforts to slow the spread of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in Cairo, Egypt, April 6, 2020. REUTERS/Mohamed Abd El Ghany/File Photo

Egypt has on said that worshipers will soon be able to attend mosque for Friday prayers after a suspension that lasted for nearly five months. The decision came as the daily tally of confirmed new COVID-19 cases fell below 200. Egypt’s Minister of Religious Endowment Mohamed Mokhtar Gomaa said that weekly congregational prayers may be held starting Aug. 28. Worshipers are expected to observe social distancing and wear face masks to prevent another viral outbreak, Gomaa said in a statement. He said the Friday sermon, which usually lasts for nearly an hour, will also be reduced to 10 minutes. Starting in August, the number of new cases in Egypt has dropped significantly to less than 200 new cases a day. Overall, Egypt has reported nearly 97,000 confirmed cases, including 5,197 deaths, The Associated Press reported. On Wednesday, Egypt reported 163 confirmed cases and 13 fatalities. Meanwhile, Egypt will require all visitors to the country to present Polymerase Chain Reaction test results for the virus on arrival from Sept. 1, Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly announced in televised address on Wednesday.

from Asharq AL-awsat https://english.aawsat.com/home/article/2459106/egypt-opens-mosques-friday-prayers