COVID-19 & The Muslim Community

Novel Corona Virus (COVID-19) has been declared a pandemic by the World Health Organisation (WHO) on March 11, 20201. This follows on its earlier categorization of COVID-19 as a Public Health Emergency of International Concern on January 30, 2020.

On March 12th, Trinidad and Tobago declared its first confirmed case of COVID-19. Based on this, the Minister of Health has made recommendations to all institutions and groups within society (religious groups were specifically mentioned), with the underlying premise that prevention of contracting the virus is better than cure.

What do the scholars have to say on this matter and the recommendations made to Muslim Society?