Posted on Saturday 1st August 2020
Pictured discussing progress are Leader Alan White, second right, and Dr Richard Harling, far left, of Staffordshire County Council, with, from left, Rubena Kashwar, Coun Syed Hussain and Tariq Hussain, Chairman of Uxbridge Street mosque.
Worshippers are being praised for the most restrained Eid Al Adha celebrations in memory.
Yesterday was the first day of the Eid Al Adha religious festival and worshippers have been following special arrangements at mosques in Burton to support social distancing and avoid large gatherings.
Alan White, Leader of Staffordshire County Council, said:
Eid al Adha is an important celebration for Staffordshire’s Muslim community, a time for worship and celebrating with friends and family.
The first day of celebration is very special and I know the community in Burton have been working hard to keep the meaning of this religious festival, while observing the spirit of the guidance around social distancing.”
Recently updated guidance has been issued to all places of worship in the Anglesey, Shobnall, Horninglow and Eton park areas of Burton.
The main advice, particularly during Eid, remains:
- avoid large gatherings and arrange multiple services or prayer sessions and allow time for cleaning in between;
- no under-18s, no people 65 and over, or people with underlying health conditions allowed;
- check people’s temperature on arrival;
- provide hand sanitiser on entry and exit to your place of worship;
- face coverings must be worn;
- arrange for people to keep at least three metres apart during worship - this advice goes further than government guidance due to the current escalated risk in Burton;
- collect the names of all visitors and record the time they arrive and which room they worship in;
- do not visit other homes or allow visitors to come into your home this Eid.
Dr Richard Harling, Staffordshire County Council’s Director of Health and Care, said:
The response from the public has been very good at what is usually a time for large celebrations.
The news from Greater Manchester, East Lancashire and West Yorkshire shows how important it is for people to carry on as they have been doing to protect their loved ones at this unusual time.”
Zahid Ali, Trustees’ Chairman at Princess Street Masjid, said:
This has been the most unusual celebration for us, but we are working together to help one another to beat the virus and keep our loved ones safe and sound. Eid Mubarak.”
Tariq Hussain, Chairman of the Uxbridge Street mosque, added:
This is a very special occasion and clearly it cannot be celebrated in the traditional way, but everyone understands that it’s better to do this now for the benefit of everyone in the long run.”