Muslims celebrate Eid in the shadow of Covid-19

MILLIONS of Muslims across Africa are celebrating a slightly different Eid-ul-fitr, the festival marking the end to the month of fasting where people typically gather after a period of reflection.

Eid-ul-fitr begins with the sighting of the crescent moon.

While many African countries including Ivory Coast have eased lockdown measures that were in place in mosques, allowing people to worship together, the impact of Covid-19, is clear.

Dozens of mosques in Somalia’s capital Mogadishu were crowded yesterday, making social distancing impossible, according to a Reuters witness.

Still, most streets were empty, and the children that normally flock to the city’s public gardens during the festival were nowhere to be seen.

In Niger’s capital, Niamey, and Tanzania’s capital, Dar es Salaam, some mosques were crowded, but many were closed as imams decided they could not run prayers safely.

The Grand Mosque in Senegal’s capital Dakar will remain closed.

The number of Covid-19 cases in Africa has reached a milestone of more than 100000 the World Health Organization (WHO) said on Friday.

However, the pandemic appeared to be taking a different course on the continent than in the rest of the world. “For now… the continent has been spared the high numbers of deaths which have devastated other regions of the world,” Matshidiso Moeti, WHO regional director for Africa, said.

There were 3 100 confirmed deaths, whereas there had been

4 900 deaths when WHO’S

European region had reached 100000 cases.

Early analysis shows this could have something to do with demographics since more than 60% of the African population is under the age of 25. Older people have an increased risk of becoming seriously ill from the virus.