<p>In the video, Muslim worshippers on a "Dawah" (missionary) pilgrimage are encouraged not to be afraid of the novel coronavirus and to march to locations where Covid-19 is spreading.<br />
Reports have suggested that some religious leaders in the Muslim-majority deep South may have shared similar messages. The rumours have fuelled criticism on Thai social media that this might be one reason why Covid-19 has spread so quickly in the far South.<br />
The Public Health Ministry reports that the number of Covid-19 cases in the deep-South provinces of Pattani, Narathiwat, Yala, Songkhla and Satun has reached 230, second only to infections in Bangkok.<br />
Dozens of these tested positive after returning from religious gatherings in Malaysia and Indonesia.</p>

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Clip urging Muslims to march to virus hotspots goes viral

A video purporting to show Muslim pilgrims in Indonesia being urged to gather at Covid-19 hotspots has received lots of attention in the deep South of Thailand.