The Board of Selectmen met jointly with the Board of Health July 14 to consider a request from resident Muhammad Ramzan to host upwards of 2,000 people at the Westborough State Hospital property on Saturday, Aug. 1 for Eid, a Muslim religious celebration. Eid marks the end of a month of fasting from dawn to sunset, as well as spiritual reflection and prayer.
Ramzan, a physician at UMass and member of the Worcester Islamic Center, said his congregation was looking for an outdoor facility to conduct a 30- to 45-minute religious service where worshippers would observe all health parameters such as enforcing social distancing and requiring face coverings. People would then leave the venue to engage in celebrations with family or friends on their own. Although they typically draw 3,000 to 4,000 people to such an event, he said due to the pandemic, he expected about half of that number.