WHO: Pray, share and care from healthy distance during ramadan

Hyderabad: As coronavirus positive cases touch 23,38,335 throughout the world, the World Health Organization (WHO) issued new guidelines on April 18 on how to celebrate Ramadan this year. The month of Ramadan is supposed to begin on April 24 in India.

The WHO has advised against any social gathering and any kind physical contact. The statement said, “To avoid physical contact, other means of greeting can be adopted such as waving, nodding or putting the hand over the heart. Unwell and old people should take extra precautions and avoid attending any gathering whatsoever. Those with pre-existing medical conditions such as hypertension/diabetes have also been asked to avoid events.”

It asked people to gather only outdoors or a well-ventilated place. It said that if any ill patient is identified at the event, his or her contact tracing should be facilitated. Apart from that if such an event is organized people should be provided with hygiene facilities. The event should have wash basins for washing hands and sanitizers with at least 70 percent of alcohol should be given to all attendees, it said.

During Ramadan the Muslims also offer ‘zakah’ or charity. The WHO said during zakah and iftar physical distance and personal hygiene should be highly taken care of as the disease can spread easily. “To avoid crowded gathering during iftar banquets, consider using individual pre-packaged boxes / servings of food. This can be organized by centralized entities and institutions by adhering to physical distancing throughout the whole cycle.”

Apart from this places of worship like mosques should be cleaned using detergents and properly sanitized. The WHO in its statement says, “Pray, share and care but all from a healthy distance.”

Meanwhile, in Hyderabad, All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) MLA Akbaruddin Owaisi in a letter to Telangana Chief Minister has asked him to distribute ration kits for poor families in Telangana during Ramadan.