Daily Prayers to Resume

Dear Community members,

We pray that you and your family are staying safe during the current health crisis. As you know the Islamic Center had to close down all in-person services again, in December, due to the rapid rise in Covid-19 numbers in Northwestern Ohio. Not only was there a large increase in cases in the greater community at that time, but there was and has been a significant increase in positive cases within our own community, ranging from minimal symptoms to those that are severely ill or have passed away.  We pray for those members that are still suffering with severe infection. May Allah (SWT) grant them a full recovery.

At this point, the Islamic Center will be re-opening for daily prayers, Fajr and Isha, beginning January 14, 2021. This is 14 days from the end of the winter holidays when large numbers of the community would have gathered.

Daily prayers will be held in the ICGT Cafe (on main floor to the right of the main doors) for easy in and out accessibility of the masjid.

Please understand that these are difficult decisions for us to make.  However, they are made by members of this community, who love this Center and its community, and who care for your safety above anything else.

The opening of ICGT requires all of us to follow recommended best practices to reduce risk of exposure to COVID-19.     

There will be strict enforcement of Covid precautions.

Worshipper rules:

• Sanitize your hands upon arrival
• Answer a short questionnaire and sign in upon entry.
• Wear a mask
• Bring your own prayer rug
• Maintain social distance
• Don’t mingle in Masjid
• Greet each other outside the building in open air

The Islamic Center is currently examining how to safely host Jumu’ah prayers in the musallah while keeping the safety of our community as our highest priority. This is not an easy task as the layout (floor plan) of the masjid DOES NOT afford easy in/out accessibility, has narrow hallways and narrow staircases creating traffic jams, and generally poor ventilation due to the above reasons. We are currently studying options and cost for air purification through the HVAC system.

In order for Jumu’ah prayers to resume, there has to be community involvement. 5-6 volunteers will be needed for each Jumu’ah in order to safely accommodate the community.

Recommendations for community members are as follows:

High risk individuals or those that maybe exhibiting symptoms (fever, cough, shortness of breath, fatigue, body aches, sore throat or loss of taste and smell) should pray at home. The high risk group includes:

• Age 65+
• Chronic diseases such as diabetes, severe obesity, asthma, chronic kidney disease, COPD (chronic obstructive lung disease) and/or other chronic lung disease, anemia, liver disease, serious cardiac disease
• Immunocompromised: cancer treatment, bone marrow transplant, organ transplant, prolonged steroid medication or other immunity-suppressing medications
• Pregnant women

Sincerely,

ICGT COVID-19 Task Force

ICGT Council and BOT