Global Transmission of SARS-COV-2 in Schools, Religious Centres and Markets: An Exploratory Review

Context:

 The transmission of COVID-19 was reported to have started at a Seafood Market in Wuhan, China predominantly through droplets from coughing and sneezing. Gatherings like schools, religious and worship centers as well as market places are usually densely populated and congested thereby facilitating the spread of the virus via droplets. This research aims to explore the transmission of COVID-19 in schools, religious gatherings and markets.

Evidence Acquisition:

 Literature search of available evidences was conducted on biomedical databases such as PubMed and Google Scholar using keywords, and articles that met inclusion criteria were selected.

 Results show that transmission of SARS-CoV-2 has been recorded in schools, religious centres and market places in different countries and regions. Transmission was found to be less prevalent among school children unlike in influenza outbreaks due to some notable factors highlighted in the articles. Numerous evidences stated cases of transmission of SARS-CoV-2 linked to intimacy and close contacts in religious gatherings. Transmission in market place marked the genesis of the pandemic at Huanan Seafood Wholesales Market, Wuhan although only limited evidences are available about transmission in other market places in the world.

 Although these gatherings are seen to be vital to our daily lives, they are risk settings for SARS-CoV-2 transmission. It is important for government to ensure strict compliance to the COVID-19 protocols in order mitigate the spread of the virus causing the current pandemic.