Hawzah News Agency (Toronto - Canada) - An Islamic centre in Vaughan has taken the unprecedented step of shutting down three of its centres this week as a precaution, as coronavirus cases continue to rise across the region.

The Islamic Shia Ithna-Asheri Jamaat (ISIJ) of Toronto posted a message on its website on Tuesday, alerting its members, which number in the thousands, that “after much deliberation, and with the best interest of our community in mind,” the centres would be shut temporarily.

Most notably, the ISIJ said it would remain closed during its five daily prayers and for the Friday congregational prayer.

“The decision to close the centres was not made lightly and was made with the best interest of the safety of our community members and attendees in mind,” said ISIJ in a release on the centre’s website.

“We shall monitor and update the community as the situation unfolds,” it said.

As of Friday, there were 26 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Ontario, with at least six in York Region. Many of those infected had recently travelled to the GTA from China, Iran, and Egypt.

“The overall consideration was prevention, precaution and safety for our community members,” said Shafiq Ebrahim, the vice-president of the ISIJ of Toronto.

Ebrahim said there was concern around the growing number of cases in York Region, and that with some members travelling abroad for pilgrimage to holy sites in Iran, Saudi Arabia and Syria, it would be difficult to monitor who was coming in and out of the centre.