Muharram 2020 Mourning Processions Held in Iran under COVID-19 Prevention Health Protocols

With the arrival of Muharram, mourning ceremonies were held across Iran to commemorate the martyrdom anniversary of Imam Hussein (AS) and his companions in the Battle of Karbala in the year 680 A.D.This year, the mourning events in commemoration of Imam Hussein (AS) have been held in strict conformity with the public health protocols to contain the spread of COVID-19. The mourners have been asked to wear face masks, observe the social distancing regulations, and refrain from forming crowds.

Report from: Zahedan University of Medical Sciences, Vice Chancellery for Health
Published on: 6 September 2020

With the arrival of Muharram, mourning ceremonies were held across Iran to commemorate the martyrdom anniversary of Imam Hussein (AS) and his companions in the Battle of Karbala in the year 680 A.D.

This year, the mourning events in commemoration of Imam Hussein (AS) have been held in strict conformity with the public health protocols to contain the spread of COVID-19. The mourners have been asked to wear face masks, observe the social distancing regulations, and refrain from forming crowds.

Considering the necessity of monitoring during the days of mourning and preventing the spread of COVID-19, and outbreaks of water and foodborne diseases, a total of 100 environmental health officers were deployed to oversee the public health measures during Muharram.

A summary of public health preventive measures monitoring activities by Zahdan University of Medical Sciences amid COVID-19 pandemic

Number of mosques, prayer halls, and Husseiniyahs under cover: 218
Number of visits to mosques, prayer halls and Husseiniyahs and places of mourning: 309
Number of health cards issued for individuals serving at mourning places: 12
Number of cases of control over the observance of the ceremony related to the ceremony: 39
Number of chlorination tests performed: 246
The proportion of individuals observing social distancing: 85.5%
The proportion of the inspected individual wearing face masks: 97.5%
Number of group training sessions held in mosques, prayer halls and Husseiniyahs: 897
Community Health Volunteers recruited to implement public health measures: 83