Pakistani Imams Overrule Lockdown For Ramadan, 253 Healthcare Workers Get Infected With Covid-19

The Coronavirus pandemic has although posed a risk to the celebration and it also has changed priorities. The government has inflicted restraints on massive gatherings for prayers and public iftars, or meals to break the fast

As of Friday, Pakistan recorded 11,429 cases, with 237 deaths. (File Photo/ Getty)

Islamabad: The governments of Asian nations having large Muslim populations urged people to follow social distancing while observing their faith as Islam’s fasting month of Ramadan began on Friday amid the deadly Coronavirus outbreak. Ramadan is the holy month in which Muslims assemble into mosques and fast all day, holding feasts after sundown with family and friends. Amidst the beginning of this festival, at least 253 healthcare providers and medical workers have been infected with Coronavirus in Pakistan so far, according to data issued by the National Emergency Operation Centre. The Coronavirus pandemic has posed a risk to the Ramadan celebration and has also changed priorities. The Pakistan government has inflicted restraints on massive gatherings for prayers and public iftars, or meals to break the fast. While clerics and governments across Muslims nations vowed to greet Ramadan under lockdown, some prominent Imams of Pakistan have reportedly rallied their devotees to ignore the anti-pandemic measures. Based on the reports of the National Emergency Operation Centre, which has data up until Wednesday, 124 doctors, 39 nurses, and 90 health workers have been infected by the virus in the country, Dawn news reported on Friday. Ninety-two of these healthcare providers are in isolation, 125 are admitted in hospitals while 33 have recovered and have been discharged. While most of the clerics complied with the lockdown announced by Pakistan government, some went ahead to call on worshippers to attend Friday prayers in even greater numbers. As per reports, in some places devotees even attacked police officers who tried to get in their way. The first known COVID-19 fatality among the local medical community occurred in Gilgit Baltistan when a young doctor, Usama Riaz, succumbed to the disease last month. Of the 253 cases, Punjab has reported 83 infections, Sindh 56, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa 30, Balochistan 32, Islamabad 31, Pakistan occupied Kashmir four, and Gilgit Baltistan 17. The 83 affected medical workers in Punjab include 53 doctors, 12 nurses, and 18 health workers. Out of these, 15 are in isolation, 61 have been admitted to hospitals, and eight have been discharged. In Sindh, the total number of infected medical workers stands at 56, according to the report; this includes 19 doctors, 15 nurses, and 22 other healthcare providers. Of these, 41 are admitted to hospitals and 15 have been discharged. On Wednesday, Pakistan passed the grim milestone of 10,000 COVID-19 cases. As of Friday, Pakistan recorded 11,429 cases, with 237 deaths.