key: cord-0703505-l6guql8q
authors: Mubarak, Naeem
title: Corona and Clergy: The missing link for an effective social distancing in Pakistan. Time for some unpopular decisions
date: 2020-04-30
journal: International journal of infectious diseases : IJID : official publication of the International Society for Infectious Diseases
DOI: 10.1016/j.ijid.2020.04.067
sha: c36742bc94927c83e99aa782290c026d9647f52c
doc_id: 703505
cord_uid: l6guql8q

nan

countries. To begin with, more than half of the COVID-19 cases in Malaysia received virus 11 in a congregation of 16000 believers from 30 countries. [1] In Iran, for weeks clergy repudiated 12 to ban gatherings of pilgrims in holy shrines till virus crossed the borders of neighbouring 13 countries. [2] Tableeghi Ijtima (annual, international Muslim missionary gathering) in Raiwind, 14

Pakistan was a super-spreader of the virus due to "stubbornness of the clergy" that opposed 15 closing of the congregation, however, agreed to curtail. Later, when the cases surged in the 16 attendees of this congregation, Raiwind was completely sealed and declared a hotspot. More 17 than half of the cases in Punjab (the mostly affected province) were emanated from Raiwind 18 congregation (Table 1) 

Pakistan's case is of concern due to a fragile healthcare system, poor hygiene practices, 20 limited access to healthcare, and steep rise in the number of local cases in a population bigger 21 than Italy and Iran combined. Evidence supports the substantial impact of social distancing as 22 a viable practice to contain the spread of the virus. [4] However, successful implementation of 23 any social practice requires public support. In Pakistan, the practice of social distancing 24

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Author has no conflict of interest and source of funding to disclose for this manuscript. Email: naeem.mubarak@lmdc.edu.pk Tel: 00-92-42-37392215 Muslim world, and cancelled Umrah (pilgrimage). In Kuwait, Adhan (call for prayer)-an 41 unalterable element in Islam since centuries-witnessed a slight change; instead of "hayya 42 alas-salah" (come to prayer), Muezzins tweaked, "as-salatu fi buyutikum" (pray in your 43 homes). [6] 44

As WHO has warned worst is yet ahead [of] us", coming days would be more challenging 45

for Pakistan to implement social distancing in the holy month of Ramadan (26 th April) when 46 influx in mosques increases many-fold for daily prayers and Tarawih (an additional prayer in 47

Author has no conflict of interest and source of funding to disclose for this manuscript. Email: naeem.mubarak@lmdc.edu.pk Tel: 00-92-42-37392215 79 80 

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