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By Craig Considine | News Week

The COVID-19 pandemic is forcing governments and news sources to provide the most accurate and helpful advice to the world’s population, as the disease is indeed global in reach. Health care professionals are in high demand, and so too are scientists who study the transmission and effect of pandemics.

Experts like immunologist Dr. Anthony Fauci and medical reporter Dr. Sanjay Gupta are saying that good hygiene and quarantining, or the practice of isolating from others in the hope of preventing the spread of contagious diseases, are the most effective tools to contain COVID-19.

Muhammad (PBUH), the prophet of Islam, over 1,300 years ago.

While he is by no means a “traditional” expert on matters of deadly diseases, Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) nonetheless had sound advice to prevent and combat a development like COVID-19.

Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said: “If you hear of an outbreak of plague in a land, do not enter it; but if the plague outbreaks out in a place while you are in it, do not leave that place.”

He (PBUH) also said: “Those with contagious diseases should be kept away from those who are healthy.”

Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) also strongly encouraged human beings to adhere to hygienic practices that would keep people safe from infection.

Consider the following hadiths, or sayings of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH):

– “Cleanliness is part of faith.”

– “Wash your hands after you wake up; you do not know where your hands have moved while you sleep.”

– “The blessings of food lie in washing hands before and after eating.”

and what if someone does fall ill? What kind of advice would Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) provide to his fellow human beings who are suffering from pain?

He would encourage people to always seek medical treatment and medication:

“Make use of medical treatment,” he (PBUH) said, “for Allah has not made a disease without appointing a remedy for it, with the exception of one disease—old age.”

Perhaps most importantly, he (PBUH) knew when to balance faith with reason. In recent weeks, some have gone so far as to suggest that prayer would be better at keeping you from the coronavirus than adhering to basic rules of social distancing and quarantine. How would Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) respond to the idea of prayer as the chief—or only—form of medicine?

Consider the following story, related to us by ninth-century Persian scholar Al-Tirmidhi:

One day, Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) noticed a Bedouin man leaving his camel without tying it. He (PBUH) asked the Bedouin, “Why don’t you tie down your camel?” The Bedouin answered, “I put my trust in Allah.” The Prophet (PBUH) then said, “Tie your camel first, then put your trust in Allah.”

Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) encouraged people to seek guidance in their religion, but he hoped they take basic precautionary measures for the stability, safety and well-being of all.

In other words, he hoped people would use their common sense.

Dr. Craig Considine is a scholar, professor, global speaker, and media contributor based at the Department of Sociology at Rice University. He is the author of The Humanity of Muhammad: A Christian View (Blue Dome Press, 2020), and Islam in America: Exploring the Issues (ABC-CLIO 2019), among others.

Disclaimer: The opinions expressed within this article are the personal opinions of the author. The facts and opinions appearing in the article do not reflect the views of KASHMIR TODAY and KASHMIR TODAY does not assume any responsibility or liability for the same.

(This story has not been edited by Kashmir Today staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

All other passengers, escorted by the crew, disembarked from the rear door of the aircraft, the spokesperson added.

NDTV

As there were suspected coronavirus-infected passengers aboard AirAsia India’s Pune-Delhi flight last Friday, the pilot-in-command after landing chose to come out of the plane through cockpit’s secondary exit, which is a sliding window.

An AirAsia India spokesperson said, “There was a case reported of suspected Covid-19 passengers aboard I5-732, Pune to New Delhi on 20th March 2020, seated in Row 1. The passengers were subsequently screened and tested negative.”

As a safety measure after landing, the aircraft was parked at a remote bay and suspected passengers disembarked from the front door, the spokesperson noted.

All other passengers, escorted by the crew, disembarked from the rear door of the aircraft, the spokesperson added.

“Crew in the cockpit self-quarantined till the cabin environment near the primary exit was ascertained to be safe. The Captain elected to disembark from the secondary exit using a secure trestle, given the close proximity of the seats from the cockpit,” the spokesperson said.

The spokesperson mentioned that aircraft was fumigated and a thorough disinfection and deep cleaning was carried out.

“Our crew are well trained for incidents of this nature and we would like to put on record our appreciation for their dedication in continuing to serve passengers with the utmost care in the current conditions,” the spokesperson noted.

(This story has not been edited by Kashmir Today staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

Coronavirus: The day’s spike was 81 – a shade above Saturday’s 79, said the Indian Council of Medical Research

NDTV

– The government has advised states to enforce social distancing

– Railways has cancelled more than 3,000 trains and relaxed refund rules

– Rajasthan last night ordered a “full shutdown” until March 31

The coronavirus cases across the country took another huge jump on Sunday, touching 396 by 6 pm. The day’s spike was 81 – a shade above Saturday’s 79, said the Indian Council of Medical Research, the country’s nodal agency for COVID-19 testing. As the numbers spiked, the government tightened safety measures, shutting down passenger train service, including suburban trains. Metro services shut too. After Punjab and Rajasthan, Delhi and Arunachal Pradesh announced complete lockdown that halted public transport and all but essential goods and services. Bengal and Gujarat have announced partial lockdowns. Parliament will also adjourn on Monday after the finance bill is passed, sources told NDTV.

• A 38-year-old man died at the Patna AIIMS who recently returned from Qatar, Bihar health secretary Sanjay Kumar said. Though the cause of death was renal failure, the man was COVID-19 positive, he added. One more death was reported from Mumbai. The patient, who was 63 years old, died of acute respiratory distress syndrome.

• Delhi was placed under lockdown till March 31, shutting down public transport, sealing borders and closing shops. Metro will stop services till Mach 31. The Delhi Police have imposed prohibitory orders across the city, banning gatherings of more than four people — a rule that’s expected to affect the anti-citizenship law protests happening in the city.

• The essential services that would remain open includes shops selling grocery, fruit and vegetables, milk, cooking gas supplies, telecom services, home-delivery of food, banks and ATMs, hospitals and pharmacies and 25 per cent buses of the Delhi Transport Corporation. Only people working for essential services will be allowed to use private transport.

• The aviation regulator, DGCA countered Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal’s announcement suspending flights from the Delhi airport, saying domestic flights in and out of Delhi were not banned.

• The railway board decided to stop the passenger train services and continue only with goods trains. The decision came after 12 passengers who travelled in trains on March 13 and 16 were found to be COVID-positive later. 

• Most states have decided to continue with the day-long “Janata curfew” at least overnight. The idea was to avoid crowds and practice social distancing – the only means of beating the virus. 

• Still, in a few pockets, people were seen gathering on streets and parks at 5 pm to show appreciation for those fighting COVID-19 by clapping and beating  thalis – a process the Prime Minister suggested should be carried out from home. Photos and videos circulating online suggested that in Pilibhit, Uttar Pradesh, a few policemen led one such procession.

• Punjab and Rajasthan have ordered a “full shutdown” until March 31, suspending all public transport and closing malls and shops. Goa, one of India’s most popular holiday destinations, has shut down its borders to mass passengers and tourist vehicles.

• Gujarat has announced a lockdown for four cities, Ahmedabad, Surat, Rajkot, and Vadodara, until Wednesday. Only shops selling essentials like vegetables, dairy products, and medical items will remain open.

• Bengal has also opted for a partial lockdown, announcing restrictions in all the urban areas of the state from 5 pm, Monday, to March 28 midnight. While a complete transport lockdown across the state has been announced, six districts have been totally shut to check the spread of the virus. Those who violate the shutdown may face arrest, authorities said.

(This story has not been edited by Kashmir Today staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has also commented on this subject, warning the Prime Minister the Indian economy could be devastated by the coronavirus outbreak

NDTV

Congress leader P Chidambaram tweeted late Sunday night, after the end of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s “Janata (public) curfew”, to remind the centre that, despite the success of the 14-hour lockdown, the Indian economy still needed protection against the ravages of the novel coronavirus outbreak. In his tweet the former Finance Minister said “we now look to the central government to announce economic measures to deal with the consequences of COVID-19”.

Mr Chidambaram also congratulated the Chief Ministers of various states for locking down their respective territories in an effort to halt the spread of the COVID-19 virus. A number of states, including the national capital Delhi, have announced a complete shutdown that includes taking public transport off the streets, sealing borders and shutting non-essential services and shops

“The Janata curfew is over. The experience of today has motivated several CMs to declare a lockdown in many parts of their respective states. We now look to the central government to announce economic measures to deal with the consequences of COVID-19,” he tweeted.

Mr Chidambaram, one of the Modi government’s sharpest critics, had backed the “Janata curfew “in a column published today in The Indian Express, saying he was “duty-bound” to support the PM in the fight against a virus that has infected nearly 400 people and killed at least seven others.

That support, however, has not mitigated the veteran politician’s concern for the economy.

“The PM implied that the current economic slump was triggered by COVID-19; that is not true. The beginning of the decline of the growth rate of GDP pre-dates COVID-19,” he wrote in his column, pointing out that factories had laid-off workers and small producers were suffering cash flow problems.

“The government is responsible for managing the economic fallout due to coronavirus. Its first duty is to protect employment and wages,” Mr Chidambaram wrote.

Across the world countries affected by the virus have announced support for their economies.

The UK will spend 330 million pounds and the United States close to a trillion dollars, while European countries like France, Spain and Italy will all spend billions of euros.

So far the centre has yet to announce a plan, although the Prime Minister has set up a task force, under Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman to study the impact of the virus on the economy.

On Friday Ms Sitharaman said a package for coronavirus-hit sectors would be announced “as soon as possible”. She did not, however, give a timeline for the same.

Individual states, however, have come out with relief packages, including BJP-ruled Uttar Pradesh, where daily wage labourers and construction workers will get Rs 1,000 per month. This morning Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said 72 lakh people would receive free rations and pension.

In addition to Mr Chidambaram, Trinamool Congress MP Mahua Moitra has also reminded the centre of the need to support the economy. In tweets posted Sunday, she urged the centre to work with the RBI for a one-time restructuring of corporate debt and an “immediate economic stimulus”.

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has also commented on this subject, warning the Prime Minister that the Indian economy could be devastated by the coronavirus outbreak.

The COVID-19 pandemic has affected several sectors of the economy, including the automotive. India’s largest car manufacturer, Maruti, has indefinitely shut factories in Haryana. Honda and Mahindra & Mahindra have suspended operations till March 31.

The pandemic also hit the stock markets, with both the Sensex and the Nifty suffering massive losses this month. They have rallied but analysts say the recovery is likely short-lived as the country, and indeed the world, goes into a lockdown to fight the virus.

The coronavirus outbreak originated in China’s Wuhan district in December last year and has swept the world, infecting over three lakh people in over 140 countries and killing over 10,000 others.

With input from PTI

(This story has not been edited by Kashmir Today staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)