Flouting health rules: Declining virus fears lead to violation of SOPs in Karachi

People seen ignoring Covid guidelines at mosques, places of worship

KARACHI:

As the coronavirus vaccine is being rolled out to populations around the world, the fear of the virus among people seems to be on the decline in Karachi.

 Pakistan’s case is no different as people have started flouting the virus SOPs at public places, particularly during congregational prayers.

 In the bustling financial hub of Pakistan, Karachi, people have seemingly grown tired of wearing masks at public places.

 When it comes to mosques and other places of worship, people have started eschewing preventive measures such as social distancing, use of sanitisers etc.

 The arrangements to evade the virus threat at most mosques and Imambargahs also seem to be running thin.

It has been observed that the sanitiser gates installed at the doors of mosques and Imambargahs have either been removed or are not being used.

 The rule advising a distance of six feet during prayers is being ignored as sanitisers at ablution spots have been removed as well.

 The same is the situation witnessed at other public places, markets, and recreational areas, where people don’t follow the SOPs such as using sanitiser after shaking hands with others.

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Masks are still necessary at educational institutions, including government offices and private institutions. Apart from wearing masks, the implementation of the virus SOPs is almost invisible at most of the places.

 The Express Tribune reviewed the implementation of the coronavirus SOPs at mosques, Imam bargahs and public places. Managing Secretary of a local mosque in Liaquatabad, Mohammad Asif, said Covid19 cases started coming in late February 2020, and that is when the preventive measures were introduced.

“From March to August, these SOPs were strictly enforced at mosques and Imam bargahs. Sanitiser gates were installed at the entrances of mosques. Worshippers maintained distance during prayers and wore masks. Soaps and sanitisers were placed at ablution rooms too. However, after the start of the second wave of the pandemic, people started avoiding the SOPs.” Asif said that the first to go were sanitiser gates from the entrances, adding that later on rest of the SOPs were also being flouted.

“Now with the arrival of vaccines, the implementation of these SOPs seems to be a thing of the past.” Yousuf Qadri, an administrative official at a local mosque in Kemari, narrated a similar story.

He said that the preventive measures are being ignored at the places of worship in not only posh areas but lower and upper middleclass neighbourhoods too. In Gadap, Kemari, SITE, Kharadar, Lines Area, Saddar, Landhi, Korangi, Orangi Town, Liaquatabad, North Karachi, New Karachi, Surjani Town, Nazimabad, Shah Faisal, Malir etc the SOPs are not being followed at all.

Qadri shared that a few mosques in Defense, Clifton, and other elite areas are still following the SOPs. Imam of a local mosque, Hafiz Yasir told that elderly worshipers mostly wear masks but middleaged and young men are flouting this rule.

Speaking to The Express Tribune, Special Assistant to CM Sindh Waqar Mehdi said the Sindh government has made unprecedented arrangements to prevent the virus spread.

“This is why the rate of cases in Karachi is now gradually declining.” In the same vein, the official urged the public to wear masks and follow the precautionary measures at public places. “The Sindh government is trying to get people vaccinated as soon as possible.”