Amid the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, the World Health Organization has issued guidelines for the holy month of Ramazan, which starts next week.
Many Muslim countries have already issued their own rules and regulations, with congregational prayers suspended in many countries over fears of coronavirus outbreak.
In view of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the WHO advised that several steps should be followed during Ramazan to lessen the impact on public health.
The world health agency has recommended that canceling social and religious gatherings should be seriously considered. The world health agency also urged the people – who are sick or having any symptoms – to avoid attending events.
WHO recommends that any decision to restrict, modify, postpone, cancel, or proceed with holding a mass gathering should be based on a standardised risk assessment exercise.
WHO said, “If canceling social and religious gatherings, where possible, virtual alternatives platforms such as television, radio, digital, and social media can be used instead.”
Some major points in the WHO guidelines:
1- Avoid physical contact; use culturally sanctioned greetings, such as waving, nodding, or placing the hand over the heart.
2- Practice social distancing by strictly maintaining a distance of at least 3 feet between people.
3- Stop people gathering in places associated with Ramazan activities.
4- Consider holding the event outdoors if possible; otherwise, ensure that the indoor venue has adequate ventilation and airflow.
5- Shorten the length of gathering.
6- Give preference to holding smaller services with fewer attendees.
7- Consider measures to facilitate contact tracing if an ill person is identified among the attendees.
8- Provide alcohol-based hand-rub at the entrance to and inside mosques.
9- Ensure that hand-washing facilities are adequately equipped.
10- Consider using personal prayer rugs over carpets.
11- Provide visual displays of advice on precautionary measures.
12- Enforce routine cleaning of venues where people gather before and after each event.
13- In mosques, keep the premises and wuzu facilities clean.
14- Frequently clean often-touched objects such as doorknobs, light switches, and stair railings.
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