<p>The World Health Organization expressed concern Wednesday that the Covid-19 pandemic could worsen in the Middle East and North Africa during the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan.</p>.<p>Detected cases of Covid infection in the region rose 22 percent last week, while deaths rose 17 percent, said Ahmed al-Mandhari, the Cairo-based chief of the WHO for the eastern Mediterranean.</p>.<p>Mandhari said the situation in the vast region reflects a "worrying trend".</p>.<p>"We are especially worried that the current situation may worsen during Ramadan if people don't follow and adhere to the proven social measures that work," he told an online news conference.</p>.<p>Ramadan, one of the five pillars of Islam, began in most Muslim countries on Tuesday.</p>.<p>Observant Muslims refrain from eating and drinking from dawn to dusk, and traditionally gather with family and friends to break their fast in the evening.</p>.<p>"This year, like last year, people may feel that the spirit of Ramadan has changed because of social distancing and lockdowns," said Mandhari.</p>.<p>"But the actions that need to be maintained to help contain the pandemic are in line with the basic tenets of Islam: take care of your physical health and do no harm to others."</p>.<p>Dalia Samhouri, WHO's regional head of emergency preparedness, said the international organisation wanted "countries to do a risk assessment in order to prevent the dissemination of the infection".</p>.<p>She suggested measures that could be taken around mosques during Ramadan, including physical distancing, ventilation, and regular disinfection.</p>.<p>People who felt sick were advised to stay at home, along with the elderly and sufferers of chronic disease, she said.</p>.<p>Mandhari said all countries in the region had received vaccines, but that those with the most limited access were Yemen and Syria.</p>.<p>"Although progress has been made with starting vaccination around the world, there remains a shocking imbalance in the distribution of vaccines," he said.</p>.<p>"This is especially true in our region."</p>.<p>In Yemen, where some 14 million doses were pledged through the Covax programme that aims to ensure equitable access to Covid vaccinations, only 360,000 have been delivered.</p>
<p>The World Health Organization expressed concern Wednesday that the Covid-19 pandemic could worsen in the Middle East and North Africa during the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan.</p>.<p>Detected cases of Covid infection in the region rose 22 percent last week, while deaths rose 17 percent, said Ahmed al-Mandhari, the Cairo-based chief of the WHO for the eastern Mediterranean.</p>.<p>Mandhari said the situation in the vast region reflects a "worrying trend".</p>.<p>"We are especially worried that the current situation may worsen during Ramadan if people don't follow and adhere to the proven social measures that work," he told an online news conference.</p>.<p>Ramadan, one of the five pillars of Islam, began in most Muslim countries on Tuesday.</p>.<p>Observant Muslims refrain from eating and drinking from dawn to dusk, and traditionally gather with family and friends to break their fast in the evening.</p>.<p>"This year, like last year, people may feel that the spirit of Ramadan has changed because of social distancing and lockdowns," said Mandhari.</p>.<p>"But the actions that need to be maintained to help contain the pandemic are in line with the basic tenets of Islam: take care of your physical health and do no harm to others."</p>.<p>Dalia Samhouri, WHO's regional head of emergency preparedness, said the international organisation wanted "countries to do a risk assessment in order to prevent the dissemination of the infection".</p>.<p>She suggested measures that could be taken around mosques during Ramadan, including physical distancing, ventilation, and regular disinfection.</p>.<p>People who felt sick were advised to stay at home, along with the elderly and sufferers of chronic disease, she said.</p>.<p>Mandhari said all countries in the region had received vaccines, but that those with the most limited access were Yemen and Syria.</p>.<p>"Although progress has been made with starting vaccination around the world, there remains a shocking imbalance in the distribution of vaccines," he said.</p>.<p>"This is especially true in our region."</p>.<p>In Yemen, where some 14 million doses were pledged through the Covax programme that aims to ensure equitable access to Covid vaccinations, only 360,000 have been delivered.</p>