Algeria reopens mosques, beaches after 5-month lockdown

Algeria started reopening its mosques, cafes, beaches and parks Saturday for first time in five months, grually relaxing one of world’s longer virus confinement periods.

Curfews remain in place in more than half country, and masks are required outdoors as Algeria tries to keep virus infections down. But authorities decided to start reopening public places starting Saturday, saying virus infection rate is believed to have stabilized.

Crowds packed beaches Saturday in capital Algiers, celebrating opportunity to swim in Mediterranean Sea amid August heat.

Restaurants were also allowed to reopen, and mosques that can hold more than 1,000 people and ensure social distancing measures.

However, mosques remain closed to all women, children and elderly until furr tice, and main weekly Muslim prayers on Friday will remain banned to limit crowds. Mosque-goers must wear masks and bring ir own prayer mats.

“This reopening will depend entirely on discipline of each person to respect protection measures,” said minister for religious affairs, Mohamed Belmahdi, who was among those attending first services Saturday at Khaled Ibn El Walid Mosque in resort town of Heuraoua east of Algiers.

He warned that authorities would close mosques again if Algerians show even a “slight indifference” toward preventive measures. “ health of citizens comes before faith.”

Algeria has reported more than 37,000 virus infections and 1,350 deaths as of Friday, third-highest death rate reported in Africa after South Africa and Egypt.

(Photo: AP)