Ramadan 2022 in UAE: 5 ways the holy month is different from the last two years

Ramadan this year would be the third socially distanced holy month to be marked across the world. In the UAE, multiple Covid safety rules have been eased and Ramadan 2022 would be the most ‘normal’ in three years.

Irrespective of the safety rules that were in place during Ramadan, one thing was constant: The spirituality that the holy month offered. The #StayHome Ramadan of 2020 offered residents the chance to bond with their families as they offered their evening Taraweeh prayers together, while last year, the faithful flocked to mosques for socially distanced congregational prayers.

In this special report, we analyse how the UAE has adopted the new normal and how that will shape the holy month of Ramadan this year:

1. Mosques, Taraweeh and Tahajjud prayers

In the Ramadan of 2020, mosques remained closed as a Covid safety measure, and residents offered their special prayers at home. Taraweeh prayers were streamed live from the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque on official television channels and radio stations throughout the holy month of Ramadan.

Last year, Taraweeh prayers resumed with strict Covid safety rules in place.

This year, the rules have been eased further:

> Canned water may be distributed among worshippers in mosques.

> Social distancing between worshippers has been shortened to one metre.

> Copies of the Quran may be stocked at mosques, provided they are sterilised after each use.

> Women’s prayer halls will remain open during Taraweeh.

2. Daily Covid cases, deaths

The UAE has been seeing a sharp drop in the number of daily Covid cases. They have stabilised around the 300-mark, with no deaths reported in weeks.

This was not the case in the lead up to the holy month over the last two years. Have a look:

3. How Covid symptoms differ

Recovery rates from Covid-19 are far higher in 2022 as compared to 2021 and 2020. Even the symptoms of those who contract the virus differ.

In the last two years, hospitalisation rates were high as complications caused by the virus were severe.

Dr Mukesh Kumar Shewak Ram, internal medicine specialist, said that the Covid-19 patients had severe symptoms 2020 as compared to the present wave. “Symptoms in initial waves of Covid-19 and now, is different in sense that, there is no loss of taste and smell. Sweating is new symptom for omicron variant,” said Dr Kumar.

He also pointed out that they have not recorded severe symptoms due to mass vaccination of the residents. “Omicron has infected more people as it is more infectious. Symptoms are very mild for people who are vaccinated with the booster dose,” added Dr Kumar.

Dr Srinivas Rao, internal medicine specialist, NMC Speciality Hospital, Al Nahda, Dubai, said that the earlier spectrum of illness associated with Covid-19 was wide, ranging from asymptomatic infection to life-threatening respiratory failure.

“Most symptomatic infections were mild, prolonged, accounting for 80-85% of infected patients, with cough, myalgias, and headache were the most commonly reported symptoms,”

Post the vaccination against Covid-19, Dr Rao said: “Data suggest that Covid-19 caused by the new variants (Omicron ) is less severe and milder than infection caused by prior variants,”

Dr Rao also added that illness due to the Omicron may be milder, mimicking common flu , vaccinated people are recovering very fast without need of hospitalization.

4. Covid safety rules

Mask and social distancing have been eased as compared to last two Ramadan and residents are quite looking forward to it. They say that after a gap of almost two years, they will be starting a stress-free devotion.

ayaz@khaleejtimes.com