The Osun State Government has forbidden Eid congregation or prayers on Friday, July 31.
The state, however, announced that Juma’at service will hold in line with the existing safety protocols and guidelines.
This is contained in a statement issued by the Secretary to the State Government, Prince Wole Oyebamiji on Tuesday.
The State is currently recording rising figures of confirmed COVID-19 cases amid an active community transmission stage of the pandemic.
This, coupled with the fact that people whose COVID-19 status have not been ascertained would be travelling into the State from different parts of the country, in the spirit of the celebration.
According to the State government’s statement, the decision was made due to fact that Osun could not afford the impact of any form of large gatherings such as the kind expected at prayer grounds and the associated difficulties of enforcing the safety protocols against COVID-19.
Oyebamiji said,
“Our health managers are also worried by the recent surge in active cases, and have warned that the State could experience galloping figures due to continued disobedience of safety protocols if it allows any kind of especially high-density gatherings or congregation.“The State Government does not want its citizens exposed to this dangerous infection, especially among the aged and those with underlying health conditions.“The Osun State Government is not relenting in its fight to curtail the spread of the coronavirus and to rid the State of it. The government is, and will continue to take necessary actions towards ensuring the safety and security of its people,” he concluded.
