COVID-19: Coronavirus Preparedness & Cancellations at WIC

***Updated 3/13/2020***

(Initial Announcement 3/11/2020)

Assalamu Alaikum,

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

With the current outbreak of Coronavirus there has been lot of anxiety and concern in our community especially after the state of emergency declared by our Governor.

We have been watching the situation very carefully and closely. Only Allah knows better how it will evolve further.

Our Imam communicated with different scholars (locally, nationally & internationally), reached out to different Islamic Counsels and spoke with different administrations of major Islamic Centers across the US. We also spoke with the office staff of Governor Charles Baker in Boston, discussed with Health Commissioner City of Worcester, contacted Worcester Department of Public Health (DPH).

After getting all the advice, learning that Mayor Joseph Petty had declared Emergency in the City of Worcester and in the context of Fatwa of AMJA - the largest body of Scholars in North America, WIC Board convened an emergency meeting and decided to close the Center for all prayers including Jumma prayer on 3/13/2020 effective immediately.

Please read: Worcester City Officials Statement

Cancellations:

NO Prayers at the Center

NO Quran Classes, both Nazra and Hifz

NO Sunday School

NO WICSS Free Clinic

Effective immediately, we are also canceling the non-obligatory upcoming events at the Center including our regular Friday night Halaqas, Women's International day on March 14, Massachusetts Mosque Open House day on March 29, Matrimonial event on April 4, WIC Rising Stars program on April 4, 2020.

Also canceled are Imam's weekly class on Advanced Islamic Studies and Br Zubair's class on Arabic 102 until further notice.

We also advise our community of the following precautions:

• Please consider staying in your home for up to 14 days (or more) if you are having symptoms of cold, cough, headache, fever, shortness of breath, conjunctivitis. Contact your primary care doctor for further advice;

• Wash your hands frequently with soap and water for at least 20 seconds or alternatively use alcohol based sanitizer;

• Avoid handshakes, hugs or close physical contact to prevent the spread of the virus;

• Cough or sneeze in a tissue or your elbow to avoid any spread of droplets and use a face mask;

• All elderly in the community are requested to avoid the large crowds and gatherings as they are at high risk of getting infected and sick with poor chance of recovery;

• You may consider buying items of necessity like food and sanitary products to avoid large crowds.

Information Resources:

To keep yourself updated, please visit the following trustworthy websites:

Centers for Disease Control (CDC)

Massachusetts Department of Public Health (MDPH)

Assembly of Muslim Jurists in America (AMJA)

We will continue to keep you updated with further developments as the situation demands. May Allah SWT protect us all, Ameen.

Jazakum Allahu Khairen

Asif Hirani

Imam & Resident Scholar

Worcester Islamic Center

Muhammad Ramzan

President,

Worcester Islamic Center

248 Mountain Street East, Worcester, MA, 01606

Presidentofwic@gmail.com

Ph: 774-420-2636

www.wicmasjid.org