GOING into the second day of Hari Raya, people are no longer allowed to observe the tradition of Aidilfitri visits under the conditional movement control order (CMCO).

The government only allowed visits yesterday if health guidelines had been followed, including limiting visitors to 20 people, social distancing and good hygiene.

There were some stubborn people who refused to comply and attempted to cut across state lines to get back to their hometowns.

But most people have adhered to the guidelines.

Mosques, surau and graveyards to which most Muslims thronged on the first day of Syawal each year, were quiet and devoid of people following the ban imposed in most states.

Instead, many Muslims were encouraged to perform the Aidilfitri prayers and conduct their own sermons among family members in the privacy of their homes.

Meanwhile, many took advantage of technology by making video calls to connect with their loved ones.

Senior minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob has reminded people several times to avoid meeting others even though some leeway has been given for the celebrations,  as in other countries, there have been cases of Covid-19 infections arising from social visits.

He gave the examples of incidents in Bahrain and New Jersey, America, where in the first instance, a family of 16 met up for iftar, and in the other, four people met for a meal,  and all were later infected with Covid-19.

The government’s ban on social visits during Aidilfitri is for good reason – to curb the spread of Covid-19 that could be deadly to those in high-risk groups. – Bernama, May 25, 2020.