Lancashire's Muslim community wins praise for response to Eid festival plea during lockdown

Health bosses have thanked Lancashire’s Muslim community for their help in preventing the spread of coronavirus during a major religious festival.
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The Lancashire Resilience Forum – which is co-ordinating Lancashire’s response to the Covid-19 pandemic – praised the county’s Muslims for celebrating Eid Al-Adha differently this year after local lockdowns were put in place across the region.

The festival usually sees friends and family gathering together to celebrate the festival, but the county’s Muslims were urged to celebrate at home with their immeidate family.

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Angie Ridgwell, chief executive of Lancashire County Council and chair of the Lancashire Resilience Forum, said: “Our Muslim communities in Lancashire have been outstanding throughout the coronavirus crisis, playing a huge role in helping us to keep it under control.

Burnley was one of the East Lancashire towns placed under local lockdown last week, affecting the way the county's Muslim community celebrated Eid al-AdhaBurnley was one of the East Lancashire towns placed under local lockdown last week, affecting the way the county's Muslim community celebrated Eid al-Adha
Burnley was one of the East Lancashire towns placed under local lockdown last week, affecting the way the county's Muslim community celebrated Eid al-Adha

“There has been an increase in coronavirus infections in parts of Lancashire, including in some of our Muslim communities. We’ve been working hard over recent weeks to control this and stop the spread.

“It was therefore absolutely vital that people understood the need to celebrate Eid in a different way this year.

“The response has been brilliant. I’m incredibly grateful and proud of the way our Muslim communities in Lancashire have engaged with the public health advice and showed us how they could enjoy themselves and celebrate Eid while keeping themselves and others safe.

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“The stories of people celebrating in small groups, following hygiene and social distancing advice while visiting mosques, are a great credit to the county. It shows how strong, caring and supportive our communities really are.

“I’d also like to remind everyone that the risk of coronavirus is still with us and that it’s vital to continue to follow the advice which helps to keep people safe and prevent the virus from spreading.”

If you feel unwell or have any symptoms of coronavirus, self-isolate, go online and get a free Covid-19 test at www.nhs.uk/ask-for-a-coronavirus-test or call 111.