Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, April 7) — Authorities have temporarily suspended congregational prayers in mosques in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao in a bid to stop the spread of COVID-19 in the area.
BARMM Spokesperson Naguib Sinarimbo made the announcement on Tuesday’s Laging Handa briefing.
“Naglabas na ng fatwa or religious injunction yung mufti ng Bangsamoro na hindi na muna magkaroon ng congregational prayers sa mga mosque, dahil pag madaming tao sa mosque yung chances na may transmission doon ay masyadong mataas,” he said.
[Translation: The mufti released a fatwa or religious injunction against congregational prayers in moques for now because when there are a lot of people in a mosque, the chances of virus transmission are very high.]
Naguib said there have been three COVID-19 deaths in the region.
Apart from the fatwa on congregational prayers. another order was made to relax rituals performed on bodies of Muslims who have died in a bid to protect individuals who would handle the cadavers.
“Naglabas na rin po ng fatwa ang mufti natin na doon sa pag-manage ng cadaver ng mga nag-positive or suspected na nag-PUI, ay i-lessen yung rituals para maiwasan natin yung exposure ng mga kababayan na maghahandle ng cadaver ng isang Muslim para hindi malipat yung virus,” he said.
A community quarantine has also been enforced in the region limiting the movement of residents, similar to quarantine efforts in place all over the country.
Sinarimbo also said a fund is being set up that authorities can tap to buy palay from farmers so they could be encouraged to produce more than what is now available in the markets.
They are also working to build a medical facility in the Cotabato Sanitarium which could host patients should COVID-19 cases rise in the city and other hospitals are unable to take them in.
“Para naman ma-enhance yung pagpapabilis ng testing, kausap rin po yung Cotabato Regional Medical Center para ho bilhan sila ng equipment para po magkaroon tayo ng sub-national testing center,” added Sinarimbo.
[Translation: We have also spoken to the Cotabato Regional Medical Center so we could purchase equipment so we can have a local testing center to enhance the speed of testing.
