In advance of Eid al-Adha beginning tomorrow, it is important to consider how to celebrate safely during the pandemic.

By working together, we have been able to slow down the virus, but it is unfortunately still present, so there are important actions that can be taken to keep yourselves, friends, family and communities safe during this time of celebration.

While celebrations can still go ahead, it is important to remember the following guidance is still in place:

  • Only meet indoors in groups of one or two households (anyone in your support bubble counts as one household) – this includes when dining out
  • Only meet outdoors in a group of six people or fewer from different households; gatherings larger than six should only take place if everyone is exclusively from two households or support bubbles
  • Do not hold or attend celebrations (such as parties) where it is difficult to maintain social distancing
  • Do not stay overnight away from your home with members of more than one other household (your support bubble counts as one household)
  • Do not interact socially with anyone outside the group you are attending a place with, even if you see other people you know, for example, in a restaurant, community centre or place of worship
  • Try to limit the number of people you see, especially over short periods of time, to keep you all safe. The fewer people with whom you interact, the fewer chances we give the virus to spread

Actions like washing your hands regularly, maintaining a social distance of at least 2 metres indoors or 1 metre if outdoors or wearing a face covering, are all still important too.

Councillor Roy Webb, Cabinet Member for Adults, Health and Housing, said:

It may sound very basic, but measures like regular handwashing and keep a safe distance from relatives and loved ones, could make a huge difference to the potential risk of transmitting coronavirus. While celebrations will, of course, feel very different from previous years, it is vital that we keep actions like this in mind and remember to keep safe.

For full guidance on social distancing and COVID-19, visit the Government website.