The Cabinet meeting Chaired by President Paul Kagame held on Monday, January 18, put in place new strict directives to slow the spread of new COVID-19 infections.
In response to the pandemic surge, especially in City of Kigali, the Cabinet placed Kigali under total lockdown. Movements are only allowed for those seeking essential services such as healthcare, food shopping, banking, among others.
Personnel performing such essential services will, however, first acquire movement clearance permit from Rwanda National Police.
Travel between Kigali and other provinces and districts of the country is not permitted, except for tourism or essential services; public transport is prohibited, however, transportation of food and essential goods will continue to function.
Taxi-motos and bicycles are not permitted to carry passengers, but may offer delivery services. All employees in public and private institutions are required to work from home, except for those providing essential services.
Businesses in Kigali have also been closed, except distribution and delivery services as well as those selling food, medicine (pharmacies), hygiene and cleaning products, fuel, and other essential items, which will operate at 30% capacity. Restaurants and cafés will only provide take-away service. However, all businesses permitted to operate will close by 6pm.
All schools (public and private) including universities are closed but remote learning is encouraged; places of worship are closed; funeral gatherings should not exceed 15 persons.
Designated hotels for arriving passengers will remain open under strict COVID-19 prevention measures; tourism activities will continue in strict adherence with COVID – 19 health guidelines. This includes hotels, tour operators and transport services facilitating guests.
Hotels will only host essential conferences upon written approval from RDB. Farming will continue for the ongoing agricultural season while observing COVID – 19 control measures.
Other parts of the country
With exception of Kigali now under lockdown, movements in the rest of the country is now prohibited from 6pm to 4am, places of worship closed, bars remain closed while schools will continue while respecting COVID – 19 control measures.
All social gatherings and events including religious weddings ceremonies, receptions, meetings and conferences are prohibited; public gyms and swimming pools shall be restricted from the public with the exception of tested guests staying at hotels; attendance at a vigil should not exceed 10 people at any one time; funeral gatherings should not exceed 15 persons; while gaming activities remain prohibited.
RNP spokesperson, CP John Bosco Kabera urged all residents of Rwanda to understand and respect the new guidelines expected to be reviewed after 15 days.
“The guidelines are clear; we urge everyone to read, understand and respect them. Those in need or providing essential services will be facilitated,” said CP Kabera.
He added: “Operating permitted essential services or having movement clearance is not an excuse for one to engage in prohibited practices. Use the clearance for the intended purpose in observance with the prevention measures.
We are aware that there are some people, who might try to masquerade as providers or actors in permitted services; people pretending to be farmers or operating a restaurant you do not have… we have arrested such individuals in the past. People should fear the pandemic, respect the directives and stay at home instead of fearing to be arrested.”
The Police, he said, will continue to facilitate those going for essential services. A movement clearance can be applied through www.mc.gov.rw or dial *127# and follow the prompts. RNP also provided contacts; 0788311606 and 078811107, for further assistance.
The Minister of Health, Dr. Daniel Ngamije said that there has been a drastic rise in COVID-19 infections and related fatalities in the past 50 days compared to cases recorded previously since the first case was registered in Rwanda on March 14, 2020.
“Out of over 11,000 cases registered in Rwanda since March 14, 2020 up to this morning of January 18, 2021; 46 percent of them were registered in the last 50 days. Out of 142 fatalities recorded in the same period, 65 percent of them occurred in the past 50 days. This dire situation necessitated strict measures to slow down the infection rate,” Dr. Ngamije said.
He added that some infections are due to people, who disregard the health guidelines, including those who test positive and placed under home-based care.
“Out of the 1500 people tested randomly in City of Kigali, 20 percent of them were positive. These people did not have symptoms but they were treated and recovered. However, this number could have infected many others, which necessitated a lockdown to restrict movements and to contain the pandemic from their respective homes,” Dr. Ngamije said.
In partnership with community health workers, he added, they will continue to follow those under home-based care and to give necessary medical attention to those in need.
The Minister of Local Government, Prof. Anastase Shyaka observed that although the lockdown in Kigali brings some challenges, the intended purpose is the good health of the people.
“Staying at home is not something we can be happy for but it should not be perceived as a punishment; it’s a hard decision taken to combat the pandemic and to save lives. People should therefore not try to find reasons to violate the directives but rather understand the intended purpose and value their lives,” Prof. Shyaka said. (End)