Tapin Muslim Community Of South Kalimantan Holds The Ward Off Misfortune Tradition To Avoid COVID-19

The people of Tapin Regency, South Kalimantan, hold a ward off misfortune tradition to avoid COVID-19. (ANTARA/Muhammad Fauzi Fadilah)

JAKARTA - The Muslim community in Tapin Regency, South Kalimantan, holds a ward off misfortune tradition to avoid COVID-19 by reading the holy Quran and burdah or praise poems to the Prophet Muhammad.

Executor Akhmad Zarkasi in Rantau, Friday, said the activity which was carried out on Thursday, August 26 that night was by traveling around the village as an effort to avoid the COVID-19 virus.

"The purpose of this repelling activity is to hope that God Almighty, may all current disasters be lifted by Allah Subhanahu Wa Ta'ala," he said as quoted by Antara.

The activity, which was held by the Djalan Pelita Youth Association (IPDP) in Rangda Malingkung Village, was attended by dozens of people walking and rickshaws lit by lights.

Meanwhile, based on data from the South Kalimantan Provincial Health Office, it was recorded that in 2021, on May 1 there were 1,092 positive cases in Tapin, 1,158 cases on June 1, 1,202 cases on July 1, 1,721 cases on August 27, and 2,272 cases on August 27.

From May 1 to August 27, 2021, the data on positive cases of COVID-19 recorded in Tapin has increased the number to 100 percent since April 2020.

During that period, there was an increase of 1,180 positive cases in Tapin, which has now started the Implementation of Level 3 Community Activity Restrictions (PPKM).

The cumulative number of COVID-19 cases in Tapin so far, as of Friday, August 27, a total of 2,272 people recovered 2,058 people and 128 people were being treated and 86 people died.