key: cord-0954431-34v1rny8
authors: Yezli, Saber; Khan, Anas
title: COVID-19 pandemic: It is time to temporarily close places of worship and to suspend religious gatherings
date: 2020-04-27
journal: J Travel Med
DOI: 10.1093/jtm/taaa065
sha: 0083fddb5056d3b0646f91a430cfd8a92b29c9c8
doc_id: 954431
cord_uid: 34v1rny8

nan

Social distancing has been key in the fight against the rapid spread of COVID-19 with interventions to limit people contact and gatherings introduced in many countries, including the closure of schools, malls, and offices. 1 It is then time to also temporarily close places of worship and suspend religious gatherings. The current COVID-19

"infodemic" is creating a sense of anxiety, panic and fear among many people. 2 In such climate, group prayers and gatherings at places of worship such as mosques, temples, churches, and synagogues, could serve as an important outlet for people of faith to seek comfort, strength and direction, express solidarity and fortify community cohesion and relationships. In addition, such gatherings could be used as an effective platform for COVID-19 risk communication.

However, gatherings at places of worship represent a risk for COVID-19 transmission to potentially large numbers of people from a single case. These gatherings often involve dense mixing of many people in a confined space, sometimes over significant

periods. These factors are the main drivers for the spread of COVID-19. 3 The frequency of these gatherings (e.g., in Islam mosques hold five prayers each day) Following its bold decision to suspend the Umrah religious mass gathering, 7 

None to declare 

Isolation, quarantine, social distancing and community containment: pivotal role for old-style public health measures in the novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) outbreak

How to fight an infodemic

High population densities catalyze the spread of COVID

A single mass gathering resulted in massive transmission of COVID-19 infections in Malaysia with further international spread

The British Board of Scholars & Imams. UK Community Briefing paper for

Imams, Mosques, and Madrasas for the coronavirus Pandemic (BBSIG-02) 2020. 6. Church of England. Coronavirus (COVID-19) guidance for churches

Saudi Arabia`s measures to curb the COVID-19 outbreak: temporary suspension of the Umrah pilgrimage

World Health Organization. Safe Ramadan practices in the context of the COVID-19-Interim guidance

World Health Organization. Practical considerations and recommendations for religious leaders and faith-based communities in the context of COVID-19-Interim guidance