Curfew hours extended as Covid-19 cases increases

By The Inspirer writer.

The government of Rwanda has taken new measures to contain the spread of the new Covid-19 that is on the rise, imposing a 10 pm curfew.

The rapid rise of the disease has been reported over the past few days.

On December 17, 2021, the test results from the Ministry of Health showed that 627 out of 113,838 persons tested for Covid-19 in the previous seven days were positive.  Kigali has the highest rate of positivity, with 116 people testing positive in the last week.

Under the new guidelines, in order to access restaurants, bars and all services of worship in Kigali and secondary cities, customers and worshipers must be fully vaccinated.

The new measures are contained in the Prime Minister’s communique of December 17 which also announced the suspension of nightclubs and concerts as well as live band entertainment in other venues.

The measures will take effect on Monday December 20, the communique said.

This comes just two days after a cabinet meeting convened on Tuesday, December 15 had tightened the measures to deal with the spread of the Omicron variant of Covid-19 in Rwanda.

Among other resolutions, according to the statement, the Ministry of Health may temporarily close public or private premises with identified clusters of people infected with the virus.

Traditional, civil and religious weddings, related receptions as well as other social gatherings will now not exceed 30 per cent of the venue capacity or exceed 75 people.

Events conducted in homes  are not supposed to exceed 20 people and local officials should be informed about them seven days ahead.

All guests are required to be fully vaccinated and must have a negative covid-19 test within 24 hours prior to the event.

According to the communique, attendance at the vigil will not exceed 20 people at a time while funeral events will not exceed 50 people. All attendees will be required to provide proof of a negative Covid-19 test taken within 24 hours, it added.

Physical conferences and meetings are allowed to continue at 50 per cent occupancy, with all participants fully vaccinated and a negative covid-19 test that was taken within 24 hours prior to the meeting.

Moreover, customers of gyms and fitness centres as well as swimming pools, massage parlors, saunas, are required to be fully vaccinated with the exception of people under 18 years of age and should have a negative covid-19 test taken with 24 hours, while they continue to re-open progressively.  

The Statement from the Prime Minister’s Office added that “All Rwandans and residents are urged to get fully vaccinated, frequently tested, and encouraged to work remotely if and when possible while continuing to observe preventive measures,”