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COVID-19: Exploring Faith Dimensions
WEEKLY HIGHLIGHT
#195
Focus on COVID-19 Shifts with Geopolitical Developments

The past week saw the focus of headlines shift, notably with the Ukraine crisis, alongside easing of COVID-19 linked restrictions in several countries, the United States and United Kingdom among them. But the impact of the pandemic strikes at different times and in different ways. For example, while some countries eased restrictions, there are now reports of a sharp spike in cases in, for example, the Solomon Islands (where there are reports of religiously linked vaccine resistance).
 
Research reports focused on religious responses to COVID-19 continue to grow in number. A study of Indonesia highlights the important roles of the large Islamic inspired organizations. “The large members and participants, organizational structures involving grassroots levels, and financial support from the organizations' reputable philanthropic agencies were their strengths in performing those activities. However, coordination…from central board to branch level was considerably challenging, especially where the coordination path was long. The insufficient information technology facilities also made the process difficult online.” 
 
In Sri Lanka, the beneficial results of a community level focus are well documented. “This paper highlights a novel COVID-19 prevention model with active involvement of religious leaders that can be implemented in low resource settings. Our experience from Sri Lanka demonstrates the feasibility of implementing this model to mitigate the disastrous situation following the COVID-19 outbreak.”  This model was implemented by the country’s Health Promotion Bureau (HPB) with the Sarvodaya Movement, Alliance Development Trust, and grassroots organizations, and was part of the community engagement work of the HPB with UNICEF and WHO country offices, demonstrating an example of three-way government/international agency/faith actor engagement in COVID-19 response. 
 
A study of Ukraine (pre-invasion) highlights complexity: “The authors have concluded that further harmonious interaction of government authorities and religious organisations in Ukraine in COVID-19 conditions depends on numerous factors: the epidemiologic situation, government decisions on the functioning of various social institutions, religious institutions in particular, and support by religious leaders of government initiatives on preventing the public spread of the disease.” 
 
Another example of an investigative focus is a study on how different Muslim groups in the United States experienced pay cuts during the pandemic. For various reasons, Muslim communities have been hit hard by the pandemic, especially financially. For example, 27% of American Muslims reported losing their job due to COVID-19, compared to 19% of the general public. 
 
Pope Francis continued his focus on the pandemic’s human impact, this week hailing health workers as heroes. The impact on clergy is a trend we have seen throughout the pandemic, with one piece noting both burnout and breakthroughs. For many Christians Lenten reflections will focus on the changes in lives and worship that the pandemic brings.

Paul Farmer’s death on February 21 and the many tributes to him emphasized Farmer’s focus on the challenges of bringing the COVID-19 vaccine to the poorest and sickest countries. This in turn highlighted both the stark inequalities in health care that the COVID-19 crisis has revealed and how to salvage hope in desperate times.
Upcoming Event 

March 11, 2022 | 9:00 a.m. - 10:30 a.m. EST
Faith and the COVID-19 Pandemic at Two Years: A Retrospective

Please register to receive the webinar link.

Part two of a webinar series on the theme of “Looking Back to Look Forward,” this webinar will take stock of the Religious Responses to COVID-19 project, which has involved continuous monitoring of media and research analysis and commentary and regular reports distilling this information, as well as webinars, articles, and partnership activities. 

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If you have news articles, guides, or other relevant resources you wish to share with us for review please email covid19.faithresponse@gmail.com. We are particularly interested in learning more about groups facing acute vulnerabilities (refugees, elderly, those impacted by the digital divide, in fragile states, etc.). Please send us any information you see.
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