Sacrifice implementation protocol during the Covid pandemic

The implementation of slaughtering sacrificial animals during a pandemic has the potential to become a risk of transmission of COVID-19. There will be direct interaction and contact between people, whether during the process of buying and selling sacrificial animals, during the slaughtering process, or during the distribution of the sacrificial meat.

In addition, there is the potential for movement of people between provinces / districts / cities during qurbani activities which increases the risk of COVID-19 transmission. To reduce this risk, the implementation of sacrificial activities needs to follow health procedures.

Sacrifice implementation protocol during the COVID-19 pandemic

All activities carried out during a disease pandemic must consider health risks. Ahead of the 2020 Eid al-Adha celebration, the Indonesian government issued a regulation on the implementation of slaughtering sacrificial animals to prevent transmission of COVID-19.

The regulation contains protocols starting from the activity of buying and selling sacrificial animals, implementing sacrifices, to distributing sacrificial animals. This protocol is contained in a circular issued by the Director General of Animal Husbandry and Animal Health of the Ministry of Agriculture (Dirjen PKH Kementan).

"The hope is that the qurbani activity in the midst of a pandemic situation will continue to run optimally by considering the aspects of preventing the spread of COVID-19," said I Ketut Diarmita, PKH director general of the Ministry of Agriculture, Friday (12/6).

The following are details of protocols that must be considered when carrying out qurbani during the COVID-19 pandemic.

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The activity of buying and selling sacrificial animals during the pandemic

The seller of sacrificial animals must have obtained an official permit from the local government, namely the regent or mayor. Sellers from other areas must also bring a health certificate from the puskesmas or hospital.

It is advisable to buy and sell sacrificial animals during the pandemic to rely on online transactions (on line) . Another option can be coordinated with the mosque council or the amil zakat body. This is done to minimize the amount of interaction and direct contact.

The activity of selling sacrificial animals must meet requirements such as maintaining physical distance (physical distancing) , the application of personal hygiene and cleanliness of the premises, as well as medical examinations. Here are the details.

• Everyone who enters the sales area must wash their hands with soap and running water. They also have to take body temperature measurements.
• The seller must use face shield , masks, aprons, gloves, and long-sleeved clothing.
• Every person who is sick and shows symptoms of COVID-19 is prohibited from entering the place where the sacrificial animals are sold.
• Each point of sale must provide a safe hand washing and waste disposal area.

The process of slaughtering sacrificial animals to minimize transmission of COVID-19

During this pandemic, the slaughter of sacrificial animals was carried out with a special protocol, which must be carried out by the Ruminant Slaughterhouse (RPH-R). RPH-R is a place for slaughtering animals that meet certain conditions, including health.

The health procedures that must be followed by slaughter officers are not much different from the protocol for selling sacrificial animals. Slaughter officers are asked to apply hygiene, maintain distance, and check body temperature.

Slaughter officers are advised not to smoke and follow the etiquette of sneezing, coughing and spitting.

Several protocols for slaughtering sacrificial animals during the COVID-19 pandemic:

• Group of workers accordingly shift must contain the same members.
• Slaughterhouses are advised to avoid using fans to reduce the potential for the spread of saliva splashes (droplet) contains viruses.
• Application of safe sanitation.
• Perform cleaning and disinfection of equipment before and after use and always ensure the work area is clean and hygienic.
• The RPH-R must perform periodic cleaning every 4 hours.
• Provide hand washing facilities with soap and running water.

However, if the availability of the RPH-R is limited, the slaughter of sacrificial animals can be done outside the RPH-R by following strict health protocols.

The specific requirement is that you must obtain a permit from the local city or regency government. The place for slaughtering sacrificial animals must also carry out hygiene procedures, maintain distance, and check body temperature to avoid transmission of COVID-19.

• As much as possible limit the visitors and the committee at the sacrificial animal slaughter facilities.
• Adjusting the distance of officers when doing meat peeling, chopping, handling and packaging activities.
• There should be a differentiated staff member in the slaughter and handling area for meat and offal.
• Everyone must wear a mask. Especially for officers who enumerate, peel, and handle offal, must wear a mask, face shield , disposable gloves, and closed footwear.
• Everyone washes their hands frequently and the cutting area is cleaned with a disinfectant.

Distribution of sacrificial animals

The distribution of sacrificial animals during the COVID-19 pandemic is recommended to be carried out by the committee directly to the recipient. This was to prevent the formation of crowds at the place where the sacrificial meat was distributed, as was done in previous years.

One of the best ways to prevent the spread of COVID-19 is to avoid activities outside the home. So, as much as possible to stay at home and avoid crowds during Eid al-Adha celebrations and sacrifices.

If forced to do activities outside the home, don't forget to keep your distance, wear a mask, and follow applicable health protocols.