The General Authority of Islamic Affairs and Endowments (GAIAE) of the GNA has decided to ban Eid al-Adha prayers at mosques and public squares, as Covid-19 cases surpassed 3,000 in the country.
The GAIAE authority said in a statement on its Facebook page, that the decision was based on the recommendations of the Anti-Coronavirus Supreme Consultative Committee, which ratcheted up the worry that Covid-19 metrics are trending the wrong way.
"The failure to adhere to the precautionary guidelines, in addition to some customs and traditions that Libyans practice at Eid, including exchanging greetings by hand shakes and hugs could increases the risk of transmission of the disease," the GAIAE stated.
The GNA first banned congregational prayers at mosques last March, as part of its measures aimed at curbing the spread of the coronavirus pandemic, before lifting the restrictions partially in June, and allowing mosques to open its doors for Friday and "Fajr prayers, under strict guidelines and measures.
