FCT shuts parks, recreational centres, restricts Eid services

The Federal Capital Territory Administration has announced the closure of parks and recreational centres during Eid-el-Kabir celebration as part of measures to curb the spread of COVID-19 and for security purposes.
It also restricted religious and social gathering during the sallah festivities.
These measures are contained in a statement released on Saturday at the end of a meeting of the FCT Emergency Operations Committee (EOC) on COVID-19.
It asked that holding capacity of Eid grounds should be reduced to 50 per cent to ensure physical/social distancing.
The FCT administration also directed imams to ensure that sermons are short so that the entire Eid prayers do not exceed one hour.
The statement also asked that all parks and recreational grounds and facilities remain closed throughout the festive period.
The restrictions, according to the statement, follow an increase in the number of persons contracting the covid-19 virus in the FCT and the possibility of a third wave of the pandemic.
Residents were advised by health professionals to follow the guidelines and practice preventive measures such as putting on facial coverings, constant hand washing and physical distancing.
“Other guidelines stipulated by the health professionals are that all open Eid grounds should have multiple entry and exit points with hand washing and temperature checking facilities,” the statement added.