Indonesia’s Former VP Suggests Mosques for Covid-19 Vaccination Sites

JAKARTA, KOMPAS.com - General Chairman of the Indonesian Mosques Council (DMI) Jusuf Kalla, who is also former vice president, suggested the government also use mosques as Covid-19 vaccination sites. 

"I hope that the mosques could be used as the vaccination sites at the neighborhood units (RT) and community units (RW) levels considering facilities in mosques could accommodate a mass inoculation program," Kalla said on Wednesday, March 17. 

Also read: Former Indonesian VP Jusuf Kalla Continues Global Humanitarian Work

However, Kalla added, not all mosques can be utilized as the Covid-19 vaccination sites. The vaccination programs could only be held in large mosques with spacious courtyards and a good sound system.

"It should be a big mosque with large yards and it is equipped with the sound system that will be used to make announcements to the public during the vaccination drive," said Kalla.

Next month, the Muslims will observe the holy fasting month of Ramadan. Therefore, Kalla called on the mosque's committees across Indonesia to tighten the health protocols to prevent transmission during worship activities.

Also read: Mosques Can Help Indonesian Society Prosper: Mosque Council Chief Jusuf Kalla

"Next month, we will enter the holy month of Ramadan, we will be fasting amid the Covid-19 pandemic. Mosques must follow health protocols, people maintain physical distancing, wear masks and bring your own prayer mats, and mosques must be sanitized every day," he said.

Kalla said that DMI will distribute cleaning tools to mosques located in high-risk places of Covid-19 transmission.

"DMI will distribute equipment to keep the mosque clean, especially in high-risk places of Covid-19 transmission," he said.

(Writer: Tatang Guritno | Editor: Dani Prabowo)

Source: https://nasional.kompas.com/read/2021/03/17/14184181/jk-sarankan-penggunaan-masjid-untuk-vaksinasi-covid-19.