Alert Level 3: FAQs for New Zealanders observing Ramadan this year
New Zealand will on Monday night, April 27, 11:59 p.m. steer into Alert Level 3, but the social distancing protocol and trade closures will apply to most businesses.
Contactless businesses will be able to operate and will under strict regulation of maintaining social distancing.
New Zealand Muslims will start observing the holy month of Ramadan, beginning Friday evening when the moon is sighted. During Ramadan, Muslims fast during the day hours and open their fast with family and friends with a meal at sunset. Muslims also gather for congregational evening prayers and Friday prayers, but due to the Covid-19 pandemic, mosque around the globe has closed its doors and encouraged the community to stay home and pray with the family.
New Zealand mosques too are closed during this period, and Imams and FIANZ have encouraged the Muslims observing Ramadan to continue staying in their bubble and pray for the community.
The government on Thursday, April 23, answered to some of the frequently asked questions of the communities especially surrounding ANZAC Day commemorations on Saturday, April 25, and four weeks of Ramadan obsereved by the Muslim community and the basic do’s and don’ts during this new Alert Level 3.
Q. Can Muslims extend their bubbles, or gather up to 10 people during Ramadan?
A. Unfortunately, it is not possible to extend your bubble further to bring in extra people to celebrate or mark religious events.
Muslims are encouraged to observe Ramadan at home, with their own bubble.
Q. Can Muslims come together for iftar (the meal to break the fast at sunset) and isha (the last prayers of the day)
A. You can come together within your bubble for iftar and isha, but unfortunately not with people outside your bubble.
As with all religious groups, gatherings for religious activity present a very high risk of transmitting COVID-19, even at Alert Level 3. Muslims are encouraged to hold iftar and isha within their bubble.
Q. Can mosques and other religious venues open during Level 3 if social distancing rules are observed?
A. Unfortunately no. All venues must stay closed to the public under Alert Level 3, including mosques and other faith-based venues.
Workers from the mosque can go into mosques and other religious venues to work, e.g. to conduct online religious services. Many places of worship are catering for communities using a variety of online methods.
Q. Can Imams, and other religious leaders visit people and perform last rites personally in hospitals and hospice facilities during Level 3? And can they officiate at funeral gatherings personally?
A. Guidance is being developed about providing last rites under Alert Level 3, and will be released soon.
Funeral directors will work with Muslim communities to identify people who can carry out ghusl (ritual washing) and janaza (prayer over the body), and will advise and supervise them to ensure it is done in a safe way.
Imams can officiate at funerals during Alert Level 3. Please work with your funeral director to make sure that all Alert Level 3 requirements are met, including a maximum of 10 people at the funeral.
Q. Will halaal butchers be able to open?
A. Yes, halaal butchers can open under Alert Level 3. Like all businesses they must operate under the requirements at Alert Level 3.
Halal butchers can take orders online, or over the phone. And they can deliver, or have their customers pick up from outside the store. Customers cannot enter the premises.
Like all workplaces, halal butchers must operate safely. That means meeting appropriate public health requirements and fulfilling all other health and safety obligations.
Q. How will ANZAC Day be commemorated this year?
A. ANZAC Day commemorates all New Zealanders killed in war and honours our returned servicemen and women.
ANZAC Day 2020 services – including the National Services at Pukeahu National War Memorial Park and Atatürk Memorial – will not be going ahead this year due to the restrictions in place in response to COVID-19.
This is the first time since Anzac Day services began in 1916 that New Zealanders are not able to gather nationwide to mark the anniversary.
Instead, we’re encouraging New Zealanders to find other ways to remember and honour all those who served and are still serving New Zealand in conflict and peacekeeping, including the Stand At Dawn initiative.
The Ministry for Culture and Heritage has ideas for how people can safely commemorate ANZAC Day this year, go to mch.govt.nz/anzac-day.
New Zealand will on Monday night, April 27, 11:59 p.m. steer into Alert Level 3, but the social distancing protocol and trade closures will apply to most businesses.
Contactless businesses will be able to operate and will under strict regulation of maintaining social distancing.
New Zealand Muslims...
New Zealand will on Monday night, April 27, 11:59 p.m. steer into Alert Level 3, but the social distancing protocol and trade closures will apply to most businesses.
Contactless businesses will be able to operate and will under strict regulation of maintaining social distancing.
New Zealand Muslims will start observing the holy month of Ramadan, beginning Friday evening when the moon is sighted. During Ramadan, Muslims fast during the day hours and open their fast with family and friends with a meal at sunset. Muslims also gather for congregational evening prayers and Friday prayers, but due to the Covid-19 pandemic, mosque around the globe has closed its doors and encouraged the community to stay home and pray with the family.
New Zealand mosques too are closed during this period, and Imams and FIANZ have encouraged the Muslims observing Ramadan to continue staying in their bubble and pray for the community.
The government on Thursday, April 23, answered to some of the frequently asked questions of the communities especially surrounding ANZAC Day commemorations on Saturday, April 25, and four weeks of Ramadan obsereved by the Muslim community and the basic do’s and don’ts during this new Alert Level 3.
Q. Can Muslims extend their bubbles, or gather up to 10 people during Ramadan?
A. Unfortunately, it is not possible to extend your bubble further to bring in extra people to celebrate or mark religious events.
Muslims are encouraged to observe Ramadan at home, with their own bubble.
Q. Can Muslims come together for iftar (the meal to break the fast at sunset) and isha (the last prayers of the day)
A. You can come together within your bubble for iftar and isha, but unfortunately not with people outside your bubble.
As with all religious groups, gatherings for religious activity present a very high risk of transmitting COVID-19, even at Alert Level 3. Muslims are encouraged to hold iftar and isha within their bubble.
Q. Can mosques and other religious venues open during Level 3 if social distancing rules are observed?
A. Unfortunately no. All venues must stay closed to the public under Alert Level 3, including mosques and other faith-based venues.
Workers from the mosque can go into mosques and other religious venues to work, e.g. to conduct online religious services. Many places of worship are catering for communities using a variety of online methods.
Q. Can Imams, and other religious leaders visit people and perform last rites personally in hospitals and hospice facilities during Level 3? And can they officiate at funeral gatherings personally?
A. Guidance is being developed about providing last rites under Alert Level 3, and will be released soon.
Funeral directors will work with Muslim communities to identify people who can carry out ghusl (ritual washing) and janaza (prayer over the body), and will advise and supervise them to ensure it is done in a safe way.
Imams can officiate at funerals during Alert Level 3. Please work with your funeral director to make sure that all Alert Level 3 requirements are met, including a maximum of 10 people at the funeral.
Q. Will halaal butchers be able to open?
A. Yes, halaal butchers can open under Alert Level 3. Like all businesses they must operate under the requirements at Alert Level 3.
Halal butchers can take orders online, or over the phone. And they can deliver, or have their customers pick up from outside the store. Customers cannot enter the premises.
Like all workplaces, halal butchers must operate safely. That means meeting appropriate public health requirements and fulfilling all other health and safety obligations.
Q. How will ANZAC Day be commemorated this year?
A. ANZAC Day commemorates all New Zealanders killed in war and honours our returned servicemen and women.
ANZAC Day 2020 services – including the National Services at Pukeahu National War Memorial Park and Atatürk Memorial – will not be going ahead this year due to the restrictions in place in response to COVID-19.
This is the first time since Anzac Day services began in 1916 that New Zealanders are not able to gather nationwide to mark the anniversary.
Instead, we’re encouraging New Zealanders to find other ways to remember and honour all those who served and are still serving New Zealand in conflict and peacekeeping, including the Stand At Dawn initiative.
The Ministry for Culture and Heritage has ideas for how people can safely commemorate ANZAC Day this year, go to mch.govt.nz/anzac-day.
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