SINGAPORE: Singapore will temporarily close all the country’s mosques for deep cleaning from Friday (today) after two men contracted the coronavirus while attending an Islamic gathering in neighbouring Malaysia, authorities said.

About 10,000 people from several countries took part in the Feb 28 to March 1 event at a mosque near the Malaysian capital, Kuala Lumpur.

After discovering two men who attended the event were infected, Singapore Islamic authorities immediately closed four mosques which they had visited after returning.

The remaining 66 mosques in the city-state will be shuttered from Friday for at least five days to be disinfected, the Islamic Religious Council of Singapore said.

“These are temporary measures to proactively minimise the possible spread of COVID-19 in our mosques,” the council said.

“[The council] seeks the support and the understanding of the Muslim community for such preemptive measures to safeguard public health and the well-being of all communities in Singapore.”

Published in Dawn, March 13th, 2020