Ramadan begins in the shadow of the Covid
PRAYERS AND FESTIVITIES CURTAILED BY CONTAGION FEARS, VIRUS CURBS
Surging coronavirus cases in many parts of the world overshadowed the start of Ramadan yesterday, with festivities curtailed by contagion fears.
Europe, the worst-hit continent, passed the threshold of one million coronavirus deaths, while South Asian countries battle a spiralling outbreak of the disease that has crippled the global economy.
Vaccination drives are giving hope to people fed up with restrictions that are well into a second year, and India — which is experiencing a record surge in cases — was given a boost as it authorised Russia’s Sputnik V Covid-19 drug. The total number of virus deaths is approaching three million, according to an AFP tally of official data, as the World Health Organisation warned infections are rising exponentially despite efforts aimed at stopping them.
From Indonesia to Egypt, many Muslims around the world started Ramadan after religious leaders confirmed the month of fasting would begin on Tuesday, many facing virus restrictions.
Jakarta’s newly renovated Istiqlal Mosque — Southeast Asia’s largest — welcomed worshippers for the first time on Monday night after more than a year of closure because of the pandemic.
Mohamad Fathi, a resident of the Indonesian capital, told AFP this year’s Ramadan was happier than in 2020, when people were banned from taking part in taraweeh (evening) prayers.
“Last year it was gloomy as we were not allowed to go to the mosque for taraweeh prayers,” he said. “But this year, I am so happy finally we can go to the mosque to perform taraweeh prayers at the mosque although we are under strict health protocol during the prayer.”
Limited worshippers
The government of the world’s most populous Muslim-majority nation has imposed limits, with mosques only able to host people at a maximum of 50 per cent capacity. Worshippers are required to wear masks and bring their own prayer mats.
In Europe — where more than one million people have now died from the virus — the government in hard-hit Germany agreed to controversial changes to a national infections control law, handing Berlin more power to impose tougher measures. Those measures include a 9pm to 5am curfew and stricter rules around private gatherings and sports.
Maria Van Kerkhove, the WHO’s technical lead on Covid-19, said the world was now at a “critical point” of the pandemic.
“The trajectory of this pandemic is growing... exponentially. “This is not the situation we want to be in 16 months into a pandemic, when we have proven control measures.”
The organisation also called for a halt to the sale of live wild mammals in food markets.
“Covid-19 has brought new attention to this threat, given the magnitude of its consequences,” WHO spokeswoman Fadela Chaib told reporters.
Some of the earliest known cases of Covid-19 had links to a food market in Wuhan, China.