"Pouring Water on Temple Summit Can Eliminate COVID-19," Another 'No Mask' Event in India

The contrast is evident between an Indian COVID-19 patient lying outside a hospital building (above) and hundreds of people participating in a religious event in a village in western India, marching with water pots on their heads (below).
[Photo by Yonhap News Agency, Republic world]

[Asia Economy Reporter Hwang Sumi] India, which showed a somewhat gradual increase in COVID-19 cases after surpassing 400,000 daily new cases for the first time in the world on the 1st, is recently experiencing an alarming surge in COVID-19 cases again. Amid this situation, it has been reported that numerous crowds across India gathered without wearing masks to participate in various events, raising concerns.

On the 7th (local time), India recorded 414,188 new daily COVID-19 cases, an increase of about 2,000 from the previous day, setting a new world record once again.

India's cumulative confirmed cases reached 21,491,598, ranking second in the world after the United States (33,369,192), and the daily new death toll was 3,915, approaching 4,000 for the third consecutive day.

The number of new daily deaths has remained in the 3,000 range for 10 consecutive days, with the total death toll at 234,083.

In March, India’s COVID-19 cases had noticeably decreased, suggesting the pandemic was nearing its end. After the daily average cases peaked at 93,000 in mid-September last year, the number steadily declined. By mid-February this year, the daily cases had dropped to 11,000. This led to positive messages that India had succeeded in COVID-19 containment.

However, since then, many crowds gathered without masks to participate in religious events, festivals, or watch cricket matches, showing lax prevention measures. Additionally, during the local election campaigns held in March, most people did not wear masks, and COVID-19 prevention rules or social distancing were not enforced. Around the same time, the emergence of a double mutant virus coincided, and experts analyzed that this contributed to the worsening COVID-19 situation in India.

On the 7th (local time), many people attended a collective prayer service without wearing masks at an Islamic temple in Hyderabad, Telangana, southern India.
[Photo by YTN]

Meanwhile, on the 3rd (local time), after the uncontrollable second wave of COVID-19, local media reported that many people gathered without masks in a village in western India.

According to reports, hundreds of people participated in a religious event in Navapura village, Gujarat, India, marching with water jars on their heads. Participants believed that pouring water on the temple rooftop could eliminate COVID-19. However, social distancing was not observed, and participants were seen without masks.

On the 7th (local time), at an Islamic temple in Hyderabad, Telangana state in southern India, many people attended a collective prayer service, raising concerns. Among those attending, many were not wearing masks, and people were packed closely enough to touch each other's shoulders, showing no social distancing. For them, India’s COVID-19 situation seemed like a story from another world.

A resident of India said in an interview with ANI, "The greatest responsibility for the COVID-19 crisis lies with the national leaders." He added, "If the national leadership follows prevention guidelines before imposing them on the people, the citizens will also follow those guidelines. The federal government says the coronavirus does not exist, and leaders are gathering crowds," he claimed.

Meanwhile, India is facing a public health emergency. With shortages of oxygen masks, treatments, and hospital beds, videos showing overcrowded morgues, congested cemeteries, and families crying outside hospitals are continuously being uploaded on social media.

The stark contrast between the daily surge in COVID-19 cases and deaths and the many people attending various events without wearing masks is striking.