Eid-el-Kabir holidays might spread COVID-19 infections, WHO warns

COVID-19 infections may rise during the Eid-el-Kabir holidays due to an increase in social and religious gatherings, the World Health Organisation (WHO) has warned.

The agency’s Regional Director for the Eastern Mediterranean, Dr Ahmed Al-Mandhari, said on Thursday.

“As we approach the Eid Al Adha feast, there is also increased risk of transmission as a result of social and religious mass gatherings.

“Any decision to restrict, modify, postpone, cancel, or proceed with holding a mass gathering should be based on a standardised risk assessment, and should be part of a comprehensive approach taken by authorities to respond to the pandemic”, Al-Mandhari said.

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Al-Mandhari also noted that there was need for African countries to increase testing capacity.

“The number of tests performed per 10 000 population as of mid-July was below 100 in 43 countries out of the 54 assessed. This must improve”, he said.

The body added that it was supporting 47 African countries with medical equipment to respond to the pandemic

“Through an online supply portal, WHO, other United Nations agencies and partners have also organized shipments of more than 650 requests of key equipment, including more than 2,400 oxygen concentrators to 47 countries in the region”.

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