‘J&K admin yet to take call on consumption of dates in fasting month commencing from April 25’
SRINAGAR: Jammu and Kashmir administration is yet to decide whether to allow the consumption of dates in the fasting month of Ramadhan starting from April 25 even as medical experts on Monday said that dates are safe for consumption and they don’t transmit the virus like Covid-19.
Officials tackling the Covid-19 pandemic in Kashmir told wire service—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) that no decision has been taken whether to allow the consumption of dates in the fasting month of Ramadhan in Kashmir. “We will decide on it after consulting experts,” a senior official in the J&K administration said.
Dr Nisar-ul-Hassan, a renowned Flu expert, said it’s safe to eat and break the fast with dates, stating that dates can’t be carriers of virus. “The virus doesn’t come in boxes, packets or any packages. Covid mainly spreads through human to human transmission,” he said.
He said the virus doesn’t remain on any surface for long and it sustains there for a few hours only. “The deadly virus remains on the surface for few hours only and them it goes off. If the dates come from Saudi Arabia or elsewhere better is to wash them properly only then consume it,” he said. “People must wash the dates properly. Eating dates won’t cause any sort of harm”, Dr. Nisar said.
Replying to a query about bats in Saudia Arabia may have infected the dates, Dr. Nisar said the general public should not to fall into the trap of rumors unless anything is scientifically proven or studied.
Meanwhile the Nodal Officer for Coronavirus in Kashmir, Dr. SM Qadri told KNO that ban and curbs on consumption and trade of dates in holy month is an administrative decision. “There is no decision so far about the trade and consumption of dates in the forthcoming holy month. But the administration will take a call, let’s wait for that,” he said.
In Kashmir, the consumption of dates goes high in the month of Ramdham as people prefer to break their day-long fast by eating dates. Majority of date supply comes from Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) to Kashmir. The deadly pandemic has killed 65000 people across globe and left over 12 million affected so far.