As the Muslim festival of Id- El Kabir approaches and with the declaration of Tuesday(20th July,2021) and Wednesday ( 21 July,2021) this week as public holidays by the Federal Government to mark the event, the FCT authorities have emplaced measures to pre-empt a rise in COVID-19 victims in it’s jurisdiction.
Rising from a meeting of the FCT Emergency Operations Committee (EOC) on COVID-19, chaired by the Hon. Minister of the FCT Malam Muhammad Musa Bello on Friday, 16th of July 2021, the authorities have, among others, decided to maintain the shutdown of parks and recreational grounds within the territory all through the festive period.
This decision was taken in view of the increase in the number of COVID-19 cases in the country and the FCT and the possibility of a third wave in it’s search for ways of minimising the spread.
The measures announced by the Territory to stave off a possible spike in the pandemic figures are:
“All Eid prayers in the FCT are to be held in the open spaces at Jumaat Mosques as well as the National Eid Ground. This is based on medical advice that it is safer to hold large gatherings in open air spaces than in enclosed structures;
“All open Eid grounds should have multiple entry and exit points with hand washing and temperature checking facilities;
“The holding capacity of Eid grounds should be reduced to 50% to ensure physical/social distancing;
” Imams should ensure that sermons are short so that the entire Eid prayers do not exceed one hour;
“All parks and recreational grounds and facilities shall remain closed throughout the festive period, and
“Worshippers are enjoined to adhere to all prescribed non-pharmaceutical preventive measures of facial coverings, constant hand washing and physical distancing.