…As FCT Gives COVID-19 Guidelines For EID-EL-KABIR Celebration
Malam Muhammad Musa Bello, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), has mandated that all Eid prayers in the nation’s capital be held in open spaces at Jumaat Mosques and the National Eid Ground.
According to medical advice, holding big meetings in open air spaces rather than enclosed facilities is safer.
Bello revealed this when he called an Emergency Operations Committee (EOC) on COVID-19 to assess the present state of the pandemic in the nation’s capital,particularly as it relates to the upcoming Sallah celebrations.
The meeting observed an increase in the number of COVID-19 cases throughout the country and the FCT, as well as the risk of a third wave, and discussed strategies to stop it spreading.
As a result, the following guidelines are hereby provided for the upcoming Eid-El-Kabir celebrations in the FCT, based on the advise of health professionals: 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;
The guidelines continued : 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.
In attendance at the meeting were the Permanent Secretary, FCTA, Mr Olusade Adesola, the Chief of Staff to the FCT Minister, Malam Bashir Mai-Bornu, the Coordinator, WHO FCT Office, Dr Furera Zakari, the Ag Secretary, FCT Health and Human Services Secretariat, Dr Muhammed Kawu, the Chairman, FCT League of Imams Initiative, Dr Tajudeen M.B Adigun ,the Head of Media and Publicity , FCT Enforcement Task Team, Mr Ikharo Attah and other relevant officials of the FCTA.
