TÜSAD: "We Must Not Forget Social Distancing Measures During Eid al-Adha"

Turkish Respiratory Society TÜSAD Reminds of Precautions Ahead of Eid al-Adha as Covid-19 Effects Continue While the effects of Covid-19 persist, the Turkish Respiratory Research Association (TÜSAD) has reiterated the precautions to be observed during Eid al-Adha, particularly maintaining distance. TÜSAD Infection Working Group Chair Assoc. Prof. Dr. Berna Kömürcüoğlu emphasised that a series of measures must be maintained, from proper cooking of sacrificial meat to greeting customs. Kömürcüoğlu stated: "Let us follow the rules and not celebrate with the coronavirus." The Turkish Respiratory Research Association (TÜSAD), which holds concerns about the relaxation of pandemic measures during the normalization process, made important reminders ahead of Eid al-Adha. TÜSAD Infection Working Group Chair Assoc. Prof. Dr. Berna Kömürcüoğlu drew attention to the fact that since 11 March 2020, we have been facing a serious infectious disease that spreads very easily and can be fatal, emphasising that precautions against the Covid-19 pandemic must be continued with care. Explaining that careful measures must be taken from purchasing sacrificial animals to their slaughter, from cooking the meat to greeting customs, Kömürcüoğlu said: "Let us not abandon precautions and follow the rules; let us not celebrate with the coronavirus. Let us be the ones celebrating the holiday." Kömürcüoğlu, who stated "the rate of decline in disease frequency slowed after isolation measures were relaxed, but we cannot say that the risk of the disease to the community has disappeared," issued the following warning: "Although we are trying to take steps towards normalisation, the disease continues to spread and take lives in the community without losing speed. Medical masks are not 100 percent protective; transmission can occur through close contact despite masks."

"This Eid will not be like past years"

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Berna Kömürcüoğlu, noting that this year's Eid al-Adha cannot be celebrated as in previous years, listed the basic rules to be followed as follows:

• We must pay attention to wearing masks and avoiding close contact during the purchase and slaughter of sacrificial animals.
• Our elderly relatives, whom we visit to kiss their hands every holiday and to whom we attach great value, carry a much higher risk of severe illness and even death within the Covid-19 context. Therefore, let us celebrate the holiday of our loved ones by telephone or computer, actively using technology as much as possible.
• In case of necessity, let us visit them in open areas while being careful to sit at a distance of 2 metres from each other. We must avoid holiday greeting customs such as handshaking, hugging, and hand kissing.
• Attention must be paid to proper cooking of sacrificial meat.
• At holiday tables, let us not sit shoulder to shoulder; everyone should hold their plate and be careful to maintain distance.
• After guest visits, we should disinfect door handles, sinks and other common areas in the home with alcohol-based disinfectant.