Online social networking has become a suitable alternative for people around the globe following the trend of health organizations prohibiting public gatherings in fear of spreading the new Coronavirus (COVID-19).
While several European countries banned all gatherings comprising of over a thousand people-- and even a hundred people in some cases--the Kuwaiti Ministry of Health called on its citizens and expatriates to avoid public gatherings and popular diwaniya meetings.
In Saudi Arabia, the Ministry of Health recommended in a circular to citizens and residents to avoid holding official or social events in which the number of attendees exceeds 50.
The ministry also called for avoiding handshaking, describing it as “the most common cause of transmission.”
Saudi Health Minister Tawfiq Al Rabiah tweeted asking citizens and residents to abide by instructions issued by the ministry.
The Kuwaiti Health Ministry also called for avoiding public gatherings, tweeting a recommendation “to avoid all social gatherings (diwaniyas) and family gatherings in order to preserve the health of society.”
Video chatting on applications such as Skype has become a prevalent way of communication used by families and friends.
