ISLAMABAD: The National Command and Operation Center (NCOC), Pakistan’s official pandemic response body, issued a list of guidelines on Friday to prevent the spread of coronavirus through religious gatherings that take place across the country during the Islamic month of Muharram.
Pakistan has witnessed an uptick in COVID-19 cases over the past couple of weeks, with officials advising caution to prevent the spread of the disease. Over the course of two years, Pakistan has reported over 1.5 million coronavirus cases and over 30,000 deaths from the infection.
The national coronavirus positivity ratio was recorded at 2.95percent in the last 24 hours on Friday, according to data shared by the National Institute of Health (NIH). Health authorities conducted 23,035 coronavirus tests on Thursday out of which 679 turned out to be positive and seven deaths were reported. Over 166 patients are currently in critical care across the country.
During Muharram, the first month of the Islamic lunar calendar, Shia Muslims across Pakistan hold gatherings and organize processions to pay homage to Imam Hussain, the grandson of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him).
The NCOC asked Muslims to follow officially prescribed health precautions during Muharram congregations while wearing face masks and maintaining a distance of six feet from one another.
“Venue for the conduct of Majalis [congregations] should be open and spacious with proper ventilation arrangements,” an NCOC statement said. It added that “wearing of masks and maintenance of social distancing is mandatory during majalis and processions. Availability of masks and sanitizers/hand washing arrangements at the entrance [should] be ensured by organizing committees.”
The NCOC also advised organizers to regulate the entry and exit points of Muharram gatherings and processions to avoid overcrowding and hence, the spreading of the infection.
“Majalis where SOPs [Standard Operating Procedures] cannot be effectively implemented such as homes and private gatherings may be discouraged,” the NCOC said.
It urged those most vulnerable segments of the population to the infection, people aged over 65 years of age, children and the co-morbid, to attend processions from home through live streaming.
