Rwanda eases Covid 19 restrictions

The government of Rwanda on Wednesday, May 5, further relaxed Covid-19 restrictions in the capital, Kigali, and most other parts of the country after registering a significant drop in infections. A cabinet meeting that reviewed measures to contain the spread of the pandemic resolved that, among other things, movements are now permitted up to 10 p.m., allowing restaurants and other businesses to operate longer hours unlike previously when curfew time in Kigali was set at 9 p.m.

Rwanda has been applauded by the World Health Organisation (WHO) for instituting a strong system that enabled the country to effectively confront the pandemic. And the country continues to run an all-of-government response to bring the virus under control.

Gyms which have been closed  for more than a year, will gradually resume operations. A detailed reopening schedule [for gyms] will be communicated after a readiness assessment conducted by the Ministry of Sports, a statement released by the Prime Minister’s office indicates. The cabinet also eased restrictions in public transportation, with public service buses allowed a capacity of 75 percent, up from the previous 50 percent.

But bars will remain closed and gaming activities are still prohibited. Restrictions will also remain in parts of the country that continue to record higher rates of new infections. Movements are still prohibited between 7 p.m., through 4 a.m, in all Southern Province districts except Muhanga and Kamonyi, to control the recent spike in infections in the region.

The Rwandan cabinet also resolved that arriving and departing passengers at the Kigali International Airport must present a negative Covid-19 PCR test taken within 72 hours prior to departure. Passengers arriving from India, which has seen an upsurge in the pandemic - as of Wednesday India had more than 21 million cases - are required to complete seven days in mandatory quarantine upon arrival at a designated hotel and on their own cost.

The latest measures will be reviewed at the end of May upon a health assessment. As of May 4, a total 25,421 Covid-19 cases were recorded in Rwanda. Out of these, 23,710 patients recovered. Since March 2020, when the first case was reported in Rwanda, 338 people have succumbed to the virus in the country.