By: Dodik Prasetyo) *
The Covid-19 pandemic has not ended, health protocols must still be implemented considering that the target community who received vaccinations has not yet been met. Moreover, a new variant of Covid-19 has emerged, so that people still have to be disciplined in implementing health programs, especially during Ramadan worship.
The Nahdlatul Ulama Executive Board (PBNU) allows Nahdliyin residents to perform tarawih prayers and Eid al-Fitr prayers at mosques, even though the status of the Covid-19 pandemic has not been revoked. This statement is contained in the guide for Ramadan and Eid al-Fitr 1442 H.
PBNU also appealed to the congregation to enliven the mosque with a series of worship during Ramadan. However, the PBNU emphasized the application of the Covid-19 health protocol during worship.
In the guideline, PBNU also urged the congregation to carry out social development activities for the people. Then, PBNU also asked the preachers to convey the essence of Islam and avoid provocative lectures.
PBNU also appealed to Nahdliyin residents to comply with government policies regarding friendship during Eid. As is known, the government is now banning homecoming this year to prevent the transmission of Covid-19.
Previously, the government had also set a series of rules for people who worship in the months of Ramadan and Eid al-Fitr 1442 Hijri, which were adjusted to the conditions of the Covid-19 pandemic that has still hit Indonesia for more than a year.
The Ministry of Religion has also issued a new circular regarding guidelines for worship in the month of Ramadan through Circular Number 4 of 2021 signed by the Indonesian Minister of Religion Yaqut Cholil Qoumas.
In the SE, the government recommends not doing iftar activities outside the home. These efforts are aimed at reducing the spread of the corona virus.
In addition, Sahur On the Road is also prohibited, Polda Metro Jaya has banned the implementation of these activities. The Ditlantas Polda Metro Jaya will also conduct filtering in areas that are often used for SOTR. The filtering will start at 23.00 to 05.00 WIB along Harmoni to Senayan Roundabout.
Regarding worship activities in mosques, the Government has allowed congregational prayers in mosques with a limit on the number of attendance to a maximum of 50% of the capacity of the mosque or prayer room by still implementing strict health protocols, maintaining a safe distance of 1 meter between congregations, and each congregation carrying a prayer mat / mukena. -Each.
Not only that, events that are often held in mosques such as recitation, tausyiah, Ramadan cult and dawn lectures, with a duration of 15 minutes at the longest. The application of this health protocol is certainly not without reason, considering that the Corona Virus has mutated so that a new corona variant appears.
This mutation occurs in line with the development and spread of Covid-19 which has infected around 213 countries and regions in the world. Responding to the virus mutation, Deputy Head of Transnational Research at the Eijkman Institute of Molecular Biology (LBM), Prof. Dr. David H Muljono SpPD FINASIM FAASLD PhD said, mutations that occur in viruses are actually very common.
Mutation is a condition in which the virus undergoes changes in the viral genetic material. Mutations also become something that is normal and can happen, because there are so many supporting factors. At the time of mutation, the virus will adapt and change its genetic form. David explained, mutations in viruses are a natural thing and this does not only occur in the corona virus.
Meanwhile, the Vice President of the Republic of Indonesia, Ma’ruf Amin, appealed to the public to strictly implement health protocols (prokes) during Ramadan. This is because this year’s Ramadan is still in a pandemic state of Covid-19.
He also emphasized that the government did not prohibit the carrying out of tarawih prayers in congregation. However, worship must still comply with health protocols in order to prevent the spread of the Covid-19 virus.
Ma’ruf Amin also said, in order to prevent transmission of the virus, the Government had also decided earlier regarding the ban on going home. He appealed to all parties to comply with this policy to stop transmission of the virus.
Health protocol is a fixed price to comply with, this of course is not just a show of compliance, but is an effort to curb the spread of Covid-19, which has begun to mutate. By complying with health protocols, we will save the nation from the Covid-19 Pandemic.
) * The author is a contributor to the Indonesian Strategic Information Studies Institute (LSISI)
