Iranians Caught Licking Shrines Despite The Severity Of Coronavirus Outbreak

At the moment, Iran has 1,501 confirmed cases of Coronavirus (fourth in the world) and 66 deaths (second in the world). The epicenter is in the holy city of Qom. However, to prevent people from becoming panic, the country’s authorities decided not to quarantine but limit the number coming in and out of the city.

According to Reuters, the Health Miniter of the country also advised people not to have close contact with each other or kiss the public surfaces including shrines and tombs.

Despite all that, videos surfacing online show Iranians still kiss and lick the surfaces of shrines. Most of the videos were recorded in the two holy cities Mashhad and Qom. What’s worse is that even children were forced to do this, leading to the epidemic become more terrible.

In the clip, one man said: “It is said that this temple spread the Coronavirus. So I will lick it and become infected. That way, I will remove the virus and you can continue visiting the shrine."

After these clips became viral online, Iranian journalist and activist Masih Alinejad strongly criticized this act, saying that it was not only children abuse but it also led to the widespread of the virus.

Some doctors said that hospitals in big cities like Tehran, Qom or Rasht were overcrowded with patients.

Commenting on Iran’s situation, Dr. Mike Ryan, the head of WHO’s health program, warned that there might be untested cases in the Middle East country. He also said that stronger action would be needed to monitor and detect infected cases.

The Health Ministry spokesperson, Kianoush Jahanpour, announced that thousands of Iranian could be tested for the virus in the near future.

Avoid going to crowded places, having close contact, wearing face masks, washing hands and disinfecting public places are the advice from WHO and national health authorities. That’s why the act of licking the shrine of Iranians is against all the advice, causing fear to all the people who watched the clips.

>>> Do These Giant Disinfectant Machines Really Work In Fighting Coronavirus?