​Celebrate Eid safely to prevent increase in infections, urge community leaders

Community leaders have joined together to support the Muslim community in Bury in celebrating Eid al-Adha safely this week.

The festival is expected to be marked from today until Saturday, 1 August.

Mosques in Bury have reopened, but the restrictions in place to make them Covid-secure mean that fewer people can attend than normally would.

Muslims are therefore being asked to continue to help prevent the spread of Covid-19:

• by staying at home and celebrating with their own household
• you are allowed to have one other household join you, but please consider limiting the numbers who visit to avoid larger groups
• if you do go to the mosque, ensure follow their social distancing and hygiene guidance, and make sure you sign in and out
• ensure you wash your hands for at least 20 seconds, using soap and water or a hand sanitiser before and after going to the mosque
• keep 2m apart from people not in your household, and don’t shake hands or hug other people

Councillor Eamonn O’Brien, leader of Bury Council, said: “Everyone in Bury has made great sacrifices over recent months to bring the rate of infection from Covid-19 under control.

“The Muslim community in Bury has played its part in that success and it’s so important now that we continue to work together to keep infection rates low.

“I know it’s difficult at times of celebration, but the virus is still with us and we must continue to do all we can to prevent infection.

“I want to thank the Muslim community for the contribution they have made and to wish you all Eid Mubarak!”

Councillor Tamoor Tariq, deputy leader of Bury Council, added: “It’s been good to be able to return to the mosque for prayers and worship and I thank our local mosques for the work they have done to keep everyone safe.

“We celebrated Eid al-Fitr in the lockdown at home and now we will celebrate Eid al-Adha in a time when we must all continue to be so careful to prevent the spread of infection and a spike in cases.

“It’s particularly important because we all know that people of black, Asian and ethnic minority backgrounds are more likely to be badly affected by Covid.

“We must keep 2 metres apart and not greet each other as we normally would, with hugs and handshakes.

“These things are hard to do but they are what we must do to protect ourselves, our families and our loved ones.”

ENDS

Press release issued: 30 July 2020.