8 Saudi mosques closed after virus outbreaks

A volunteer checks the temperature of a man as he arrives to perform the dawn prayer at a mosque in the Saudi holy city of Makkah. (AFP file photo)

• The ministry said that four of the mosques were in Qassim, two in Riyadh, and one in each Baha and Eastern Province

RIYADH: The Saudi Ministry of Islamic Affairs, Dawah, and Guidance on Friday temporarily shut down eight mosques in four regions after a number of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) cases were confirmed among worshippers.
Virus cases have led to 319 mosques being forced to temporarily close over the past 40 days, with 306 reopening after sanitization measures were completed, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
The ministry said that four of the mosques were in Qassim, two in Riyadh, and one in each Baha and Eastern Province.
Authorities will continue to implement measures to ensure the safety of visitors, the ministry added.