Mosques becoming a major source of transmission: Pakistan health expert

Pakistan on Saturday celebrated the country's first day of the holy month of Ramzan amid the coronavirus outbreak. A massive surge of coronavirus infections threatens the country, but PM Imran Khan earlier gave permission to worshippers for daily prayers and evening congregations on account of Ramzan. However, the country's powerful military urged people to pray at home, warning the "next 15 days are crucial".

So far, the only effective way to avoid COVID-19 is social distancing as scientists are still struggling to find a vaccine. And religious gatherings could be a major source of transmission. This argument was agreed by the Pakistan Islamic Medical Association (PIMA) too who said that mosques are becoming a major source of the spread of the virus.

"Mosques are becoming a major source of virus transmission," PIMA President Iftikhar Burney said at a press conference on Saturday, reported IANS.

The newrelaxations announced by Imran Khan-government for opening of mosques have certain conditions, which include people to maintain a metre of distance among each other, carrying their own prayer mats, among others.

But Burney doesn't think that this is the right approach.

"We will not be able to keep people inside their homes under a smart lockdown for a longer period of time," he said.

The doctor said tough measures were needed to contain the spread of the coronavirus.

Apart from PIMA, Pakistan Medical Association, also opposed the measure.

"There is no point in opening mosques. I ask people to pray at home and celebrate the end of the daily fast at home," Qaiser Sajjad, secretary-general of the Pakistan Medical Association, said on Friday.