{"id":205,"date":"2020-03-12T01:12:16","date_gmt":"2020-03-12T05:12:16","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/web.colby.edu\/coronaguidance\/?p=205"},"modified":"2020-07-27T10:01:14","modified_gmt":"2020-07-27T14:01:14","slug":"shura-council","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/web.colby.edu\/coronaguidance\/2020\/03\/12\/shura-council\/","title":{"rendered":"Islamic Shura Council of Southern California"},"content":{"rendered":"

The\u00a0Islamic Shura Council of Southern California\u00a0STRONGLY<\/strong><\/u>\u00a0urges the Muslim Community not to offer congregational Friday prayers (Salatul Jumuah) this week\u00a0in order\u00a0to minimize the risk of COVID-19. In conjunction with scholarly consultation with the Board of Imams and medical discussions on this topic with a physician task force, all congregants are advised to pray the noon prayer (Salatuz\u00a0Zuhr) at home\u00a0or work.\u00a0Those who are able to have a small gathering at home, work, or in a public place may perform the Jumuah if they are aware of the rules associated with that.\u00a0This follows suit in the rapidly evolving situation with this health crisis, including following all necessary steps recommended by local health officials to protect all our citizens in Southern California. The\u00a0Public Health Officer in San Bernardino County<\/a>, for example,\u00a0has already issued an order to cancel or postpone all large gatherings until further notice. Please continue to stay connected to updates from authorities for your city and area.<\/p>\n

Given the current state of public safety with COVID-19 and after having ongoing discussions with medical and religious experts, the critical points below must be enforced immediately:<\/p>\n

All Islamic centers and organizations should act in accordance with updated directions and recommendations of their municipal health authorities, such as the\u00a0Orange County Public Health Care Agency<\/a>,\u00a0LA County Dept. of Public Health<\/a>, the\u00a0San Bernardino County of Public Health<\/a>,\u00a0Riverside Department of Public Health<\/a>, and\u00a0Public Health Services \u2013 County of San Diego<\/a>.\u00a0This includes but is not limited to:<\/p>\n

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  1. Limiting mass gatherings and large events at their facility to the\u00a0guidelines<\/a>\u00a0from the\u00a0California Department of Public Health<\/a>\u00a0(CDPH). Collective activities should NOT be attended by adults 60 and older, people with chronic medical conditions especially those at higher risk for severe illness such as\u00a0those who have traveled and\/or are under quarantine, those with underlying medical histories of cardiovascular disease, diabetes, cancer, etc.<\/li>\n
  2. All Islamic organizations are asked to cancel or postpone non-essential\u00a0community\u00a0programming such as lectures, classes and weekend programs, particularly if cases of transmission are confirmed in the county.<\/li>\n
  3. COVID-19 prevention methods are to be communicated through health agency advisories and access to readily available supplies provided to facility\u00a0staff and participants, including sinks with soap, hand sanitizers, and tissues. Proper and frequent hand hygiene should be done including no handshaking, hugging and other forms of limiting physical contact.<\/li>\n
  4. Mosque congregations when resumed or if performed, MUST:\n