Up to 25 per cent of the population are defying government calls and are trying to perform their pilgrimage, Ali Al Bayati, a member of the country’s Human Rights Commission, told The National.

“Some people were arrested and given penalties for being outdoors and contributing to the spread of the disease,” Mr Al Bayati said.

Government institutions must make greater efforts to raise health awareness and design programmes on precautions and risks related to the virus, as this is one of the main problems, he said.
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