The Grand Mosque in the holy city of Makkah, on Sunday, operated at full capacity with worshippers praying shoulder-to-shoulder, and floor markings that guide people to social distance in and around the mosque were also removed, reports Al Jazeera.
According to an official Saudi Press Agency, “This is in line with the decision to ease precautionary measures and to allow pilgrims and visitors to the Grand Mosque at full capacity.”
Despite the lifting of social distancing measures, the authorities said visitors must be fully vaccinated against coronavirus and must continue to wear masks on mosque grounds.
Pictures and footage of worshippers performing Muslim prayers are making rounds on social media.
In Saudi Arabia, the authorities also lifted curbs on fully vaccinated people at closed venues, gatherings, transportation, restaurants and cinemas. Masks are no longer mandatory in open public places.
Earlier, in July, only about 60,000 citizens and residents were allowed to take part in the annual Hajj pilgrimage.
The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) has issued new provisions for airlines after a sharp increase in coronavirus cases. The decision came after many violations in SOP’s not being followed were reported.
Airlines have been instructed to keep 20 per cent of their seats vacant and ensure social distancing between passengers. As per new directives, airlines violating the orders will be fined. Airport managers have been tasked to ensure that the SOPs are being followed.
Earlier this week, the authority began rapid Covid-19 testing of international passengers at airports across Pakistan. According to the Health Ministry, through these tests, coronavirus reports will be obtained within 20 minutes.
If reports are positive, passengers will have to isolate at a quarantine center at their own expense. Those who test negative will be allowed to go home but will have to stay indoors for a week.
On May 1, the government decided to reduce inbound international flights to 20 per cent of the current measure.
An Indian couple from Chhattisgrah recently got married while maintaining a distance of six feet between themselves. The viral video shows the couple exchanging wedding garlands using bamboo sticks to practice social distancing.
The video was shared on Twitter by the additional transport commissioner of Chhattisgarh Dipanshu Kabra.
#कोरोना में शादियां सफलतापूर्वक संपन्न कराने के लिए इवेंट मैनेजर्स को क्या क्या जुगाड़ू समाधान निकालना पड़ता है…. pic.twitter.com/2WOc9ld0rU
Meanwhile, this is not the only wedding to take place in India as COVID-19 ravages the country. Earlier, a couple also tied the knot in PPE after the groom tested positive for the virus.
Punjab government has finally once again sealed worst-hit areas of Lahore for at least two weeks despite which the number of coronavirus infections in Punjab rose to 71,987 on Friday.
The development came days after Punjab Health Minister Dr Yasmin Rashid slammed the people of Lahore for not taking precautionary measures against COVID-19 and held them responsible for the surge in the number of infections in the country’s most populous province.
“Lahoris are weird creatures. For them, everything is a joke. They are so ignorant… they do not listen and don’t care. No other nation is more ignorant and stupid than Pakistanis,” she had said.
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Lahoris are a weird creature, for them everything is a joke, they are so Jaahil they dont listen and dont care; no other nation is bigger in jahaalet and stupidity than Pakistanis; Punjab Health Minister Dr Yasmin Rashid says #CoronaVirusPakistanpic.twitter.com/YND8NULp5w
Seven COVID-19-affected areas have been sealed in Lahore over the past week. These include Gulberg, Model Town, Faisal Town, Garden Town, Defence Housing Authority (DHA), Gulshane Ravi and the Walled City.
A complete ban has been imposed on transportation and businesses in the sealed areas where 3,606 cases have so far been reported. The actual number of cases is likely to be way more than official figures that are as follows:
DHA
Gulberg
Model Town
Faisal Town
Garden Town
Gulshan-e- Ravi
Walled city
1,403
736
659
188
238
212
170
Government guidelines were issued before re-opening business ahead of Eidul Fitr, under which shopkeepers were told not to let people gather at their stores, social distancing was stressed, availability of sanitisers for general public’s use was to be ensured and wearing gloves with masks was made necessary in most spaces.
However, none of the SOPs [standard operating procedures] were followed by most Lahoris, resulting in the provincial capital of Punjab becoming the epicenter of COVID-19 in the province.
At present, there are 71,191 coronavirus cases in Punjab while 35,582 cases (about 49.98 per cent of the total number of infections) are in Lahore alone with the local spread in the city standing at 69.4 per cent.
Despite a lockdown being put in place again, government SOPs are still not being followed by people as many believe that coronavirus “does not even exist”, and throng to markets, destroying social distancing among other guidelines.
A look at stats of police actions against violators of SOPs amid the government’s “smart” lockdown, also proves the same.
According to Lahore police stats from June 16 to June 24, almost 238,400 citizens violating coronavirus guidelines were warned and sent back home. As many as 8,251 motorcycles and vehicles were confiscated while 4,599 citizens submitted surety bonds for not unnecessarily leave their homes again.
During the ongoing lockdown, 8,927 cases have been registered and 1,888 shops have also been sealed for violating SOPs in Lahore.
The story of New Zealand’s Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern and her fiancé, Clarke Gayford being turned away from a popular café in Wellington, which was full due to coronavirus social distancing rules, has gone viral on social media. People cannot stop appreciating Ardern for being modest and down-to-earth.
According to reports, Ardern and Gayford had gone to get brunch on Saturday at Olive, a popular restaurant in the capital, two days after the country eased many of its lockdown rules, but were turned down due to limited seating. Restaurants in the country are required to seat guests at least 1 meter (3 feet) apart from each other because of which many have limited their seating to comply with the rules.
Though the PM and her partner walked away, they were chased down by the restaurant’s management when a spot freed up.
Gayford even addressed the matter on social media and shared his side of the story.
I have to take responsibility for this, I didn’t get organized and book anywhere. Was very nice of them to chase us down st when a spot freed up. A+ service.
Meanwhile, a spokesperson from Ardern’s office, in an email, reportedly stated, that waiting at a cafe is something that anyone can experience during New Zealand’s virus restrictions.
“The PM says she just waits like everyone else,” read the email.
After Ardern’s story went viral on social media, President of Pakistan Dr. Arif Alvi’s son Awab Alvi came forward and recounted a similar story. Awab shared that a few days back, President Alvi had gone to buy Ras Malai from a local sweet shop, clad in a cap and mask. He said that President Alvi waited for half an hour in the line and followed all the necessary protocols.
dont have to look too far @PresOfPakistan does this often eg 2 days back clad in a Cap & Mask he went to buy Ras Malai at Jameels in ISB
He walked up to counter not realizing a social distancing line on side, was asked to follow line, he did & took him ½ hour to buy
Awab further said that if anyone has any doubts, they can check the CCTV footage.
Try and see if Jameels in Islamabad has CCTV ~4:30-4:45 this Friday you might actually see this incident
This is how I know one executive in Pakistan who tries his best to keep his feet on the ground (despite the security overload that comes with the office, which is imp) https://t.co/6rnSBy9oyt
In a rather shocking development, lawmakers from both Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and its rival Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) among other political parties have come together to attend the funeral of two of their colleagues’ mother, flouting social distancing as well as the ban on public gatherings to curb the spread of coronavirus in the country.
As per the details, the mother of PTI MPA from Gojra Bilal Asghar Warraich and PML-N MNA Khalid Javed Warraich passed away on Friday. With her funeral prayers being held on Saturday morning, scenes from the venue in Gojra city of Toba Tek Singh district showed violation of the government-ordered ban on public gatherings to deal with the COVID-19 outbreak that has so far claimed 144 lives with 7,654 infections across the country.
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Hundreds of participants at the funeral also included prominent personalities such as senior PTI leader and lawmaker Riaz Fatyana.
A day earlier, a lack of consensus between religious leaders and the government saw congregational prayers still being held at some mosques across the country, in defiance of government guidelines on social distancing.
In the federal capital, hundreds gathered at the Red Mosque, led by hardline religious leader Abdul Aziz, to offer prayers, standing shoulder-to-shoulder and filling the mosque’s main hall to capacity.
Reports indicated that congregational prayers were also held at major mosques in other cities, with varying levels of social distancing.
After the outbreak of coronavirus, health experts have urged people to stay at home and practice social distancing. Social distancing involves “remaining out of mass settings, avoiding mass gatherings, and maintaining distance” whenever possible to limit the ability of the virus to spread.
Section 144 has also been imposed in Pakistan under which more than four people cannot gather together in an area.
Considering essential activities cannot completely be closed, here’s how Pakistanis are maintaining social distance at grocery stores, banks and police stations:
With cases of coronavirus close to 250 in Pakistan, celebrities, politicians and health experts are requesting everyone to do their bit in ensuring that the virus does not spread. One of the most challenging tasks is making people understand the importance of social distancing considering that the virus is highly contagious. With workplaces are shutting down and companies switching to work from home, daily wage earners in the country are expected to be hit the hardest as their services will no longer be required.
Mansha Pasha, in a recent tweet, urged her followers to do their bit and help out those most affected by the setback.
wage earners around u. Please pay ur house help their wages even if they arent coming in. Educate the ppl around on how to wash their hands, give them a santizer to use a few times a day. Do ur bit since some are depending on ur help to get thru this #CoronavirusOutbreak (2/2)
Those asking how they can contribute – pls take the initiative and make a group consisting of friends, family, community members . Create ur own ration packs and donate to The Orange Tree Foundation and Robin Hood Army. Pakistan@robinhoodarmy.com info@orangetreefoundation
Earlier, Mahira Khan had also requested her followers to practise social distancing.
Reminder- please practise social isolation as much as possible. This is important. You can save the virus from spreading and save lives. And wash your hands Hoping and praying for the world to get better, inshAllah. #CoronavirusOutbreak#coronavirusinpakistan
