Amid the recent developments of COVID-19, Ministry of Endowments (Islamic Affairs) in Egypt along with the Coptic Orthodox Church halt mass prayers and services for two weeks as of March 21, Invest-Gate reports.

Asserting the critical implication of public gatherings on the spread of the coronavirus, the religious authorities see it as part of their social responsibility to safeguard and avert people new infections, mentioned in two separate press releases. “All congressional and Friday prayers in all mosques across the country are suspended to prevent the spread of the pandemic,” the official statement reads. Pray at home” will ring across speakers nationwide during the suspension.

The Coptic Orthodox Church is also temporarily shutting down all churches nationwide and suspending masses as part of the preventive measures implemented by the state to contain the spread of the novel coronavirus pandemic, a statement by the Church said.

The Church said it will also close halls designated for funeral services and limit funeral services to the family of the deceased only. It has ordered that every diocese designates only one church for funerals, banning visits to monks and nuns’ monasteries, according to the statement.