Saudi Arabia has announced Ramadan and Eid-ul-Fitr prayers will take place at home amid the coronavirus pandemic.

This was disclosed by Saudi Arabia’s Grand Mufti Sheikh Abdulaziz Al al-Sheikh, the highest religious authority in the country.

He said that Muslim prayers during Ramadan and for the subsequent Eid al-Fitr feast should be performed at home if the coronavirus outbreak continues, Saudi’s Okaz newspaper reported on Friday.

“Ramadan’s Taraweeh (evening) prayer can be performed at home if it cannot be performed at mosques due to the preventive measures taken to fight the spread of coronavirus,” he said in response to a question, adding that the same applies for Eid prayers, he said.

The holy fasting month of Ramadan begins next week.

Saudi Arabia has since March stopped people performing their five daily prayers and the weekly Friday prayer inside mosques as part of efforts to curb the spread of the coronavirus.

Saudi Arabia has reported 6,380 cases of COVID-19, with 83 deaths recorded.