Gladys Berejiklian urges Muslims to observe social distancing restrictions during Ramadan after Christians stayed apart over Easter
- During the holy month Muslims gather together to pray, eat and reflect
- At the end Muslims celebrate Eid with a huge gathering for prayers
- There are also markets to celebrate breaking fast, including night markets
- This year, those sort of events will look very different due to coronavirus
New South Wales Premier Gladys Berejiklian has urged Muslims to observe social distancing rules during Ramadan which starts today.
During the holy month, Muslims gather together to pray, reflect and eat after dark.
At the end of the 30 days, Muslims celebrate Eid with a huge gathering for prayers at Sydney's Lakemba mosque and other mosques around the country.
Muslims gather outside the Lakemba Mosque for morning prayers to mark the end of Ramadan
During the holy month, Muslims gather together to pray, eat and reflect. Pictured: Lakemba mosque last year
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There are also markets to celebrate breaking fast, including a night market in Lakemba which attracts thousands of people.
This year, those events will look very different.
Ms Berejiklian said: 'Just as Easter was a very difficult time for many families across the State, including my own, where everybody abandoned what they normally do, I say to our friends in the Muslim community: please, please respect the restrictions during this time.'
There were only five new cases of coronavirus recorded in New South Wales on Wednesday.
People attend a street fair at night for Ifrar, or breaking the day's fast, during Ramadan in the suburb of Lakemba on June 1, 2019
Members of the muslim community celebrate Eid al-Fitr, marking the end of the month-long fast of Ramadan with prayer at Lakemba Mosque in Sydney, Wednesday, June 5, 2019
Last night Prime Minister Scott Morrison choked back tears in a frank interview about how the coronavirus restrictions are impacting Australians' everyday lives.
He looked visibly upset as he discussed the toll the strict lockdowns were taking on families.
At one point, he struggled to speak - instead telling Sky News' Paul Murray: 'Let's look forward to the good days, mate.'
Under the tough restrictions aimed at stopping the spread of COVID-19, which has been a success in Australia, only 10 people are allowed at funerals.
'There have been so many hard things,' Mr Morrison said when asked about the restrictions.
'Young kids who can't see their grandparents and vice-versa.
Churches have been empty during the pandemic (pictured, Mary Immaculate Church in Sydney on Good Friday) with only 10 people allowed at funerals
Mr Morrison was noticeably upset during the interview on Wednesday (pictured) as he discussed the coronavirus restrictions affecting funerals
'That one that really tears me up though is how many people have had to deal with loved ones who've passed away and to go through funerals with so few people.'
Looking visibly emotional, Mr Morrison then paused, struggling to get his words out, before continuing.
'That is just... it's just horrible,' he said.
'And so we need... let's look forward to the good days, ey mate. They're going to come. They're going to come.'
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