Karnataka CM BS Yediyurappa | Photo Credit: ANI

Key Highlights No congregational prayers in mosques, dargahs, Imam Baras during Ramzan in Karnataka Mosque staff can't use loudspeakers to offer Namaz during period from April 23 - May 23 Violators will be dealt with under provisions of Waqf Act 1995

Bengaluru: Karnataka government, on Thursday, banned the five-time congregational prayers in mosques, Dargahs, Imam Baras during the holy month of Ramzan in view of coronavirus pandemic in the state.

BJP’s BS Yediyurappa-led state government also said no arrangements for Dawat-e-Sahri or Iftar, the state-organised community feast during the religious month, will be made in view of the highly-contagious Covid-19 outbreak.

The state also banned the use of loudspeakers to offer namaz by the staff of the mosque. ”No public shall be allowed to perform five-time congregational prayers in mosques, across Karnataka, during Ramzan, in view of Covid-19 pandemic,” Karnataka’s State Minority Welfare, Waqf & Hajj Department said in an official announcement on Thursday.

“No public address system to be used by the staff of mosques for offering namaz,” the order read.

No public shall be allowed to perform five-time congregational prayers in mosques, across Karnataka, during #Ramzan, in view of #COVID19 pandemic. No public address system to be used by the staff of mosques for offering namaz: State Minority Welfare, Waqf & Hajj Department pic.twitter.com/QTEhZ44jYZ — ANI (@ANI) April 16, 2020

During the Islamic holy month of fasting, no eateries will be allowed to set shop near mosques, stipulated the order dated April 16. The violation of above orders will attract penalties and punishment as prescribed under Waqf Act, 1995. Ramadan in 2020 will be observed during April 23-May 23.

Covid-19 outbreak in Karnataka

The BJP governed state saw 34 more Covid-19-related cases including 17 from Belagavi, as per Karnataka health department’s latest update. Five out of these have a history of travel to New Delhi.

There are now 313 cases of the viral infection in the state including 82 discharged and 13 deaths. With 941 more COVID-19 cases in the last 24 hours, India's coronavirus tally crossed the 12,000 mark with the reading at 12,380, said the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare on Thursday.

Out of the total 12,380 cases of the disease discovered so far, 10,477 are active as 1,488 were cured and discharged, 1 person migrated. A total of 2.75 lakh samples from 2.6 lakh people have been tested as of April 15, 2020, at 9 pm, said ICMR.

Out of these, 11,297 individuals have been confirmed positive among suspected cases and contacts of known positive cases in India.