July 16: Places of worship to reopen amid targeted lockdowns

Places of worship across Rwanda are allowed to reopen but with strict virus control measures according to a cabinet meeting on July 15 led by President Paul Kagame.

A statement from the prime minister’s office said the places of worship may open subject to clearance by local authorities. Places of social gatherings including schools were shut across the country on 14 March, same day the country confirmed its index case.

Worshipers will now have to undergo registration and maintain 1.5m physical distance.

All congregants must wear masks, public wearing of masks is obligatory

Offerings must not be given in cash

Children under the age of 12 will not be allowed in.

Schools, however, will remain closed until September. All traders for reopened businesses are required to accept digital payments as alternative form of payment. Civil marriages must not exceed 15 participants.

Borders remain closed except for exempted service or repatriations. Government announced that airspace will be reopened on August 1. Mass gatherings – public or private – are prohibited, gaming activities and bar operations remain prohibited.

The interior ministry on July 15 ordered reimposition of a lockdown in selected areas in the south-west after a rise in coronavirus cases.

Movement restrictions were subsequently announced for Nyamasheke and Nyamagabe districts – including in a refugee camp which hosts thousands of Congolese, the BBC Africa LIVE page reported. Already areas in the capital Kigali were also put on lockdown last week due to rising cases.

Confirmed cases = 1,435

Active cases = 679

Recoveries = 752

Number of deaths = 4

Total number of tests = 194,802

Rwanda MOH stats valid as of July 15, 2020

Statement on Cabinet Resolutions of 15/07/2020 pic.twitter.com/z0sJ9819AM— Office of the PM | Rwanda (@PrimatureRwanda) July 15, 2020

July 2: street tests, drive-thru testing

Rwanda has began implementing a random testing scheme on the streets of the capital Kigali. There is also a drive through testing scheme at the national stadium.

The Rwanda Biomedical Center, RBC; tweeted that the tests at the Kigali Amahoro National Stadium is expected to serve 5000 people in all districts of the city and at all its entry points.

Personnel suited in Personal Protective Equipment, PPEs; are seen administering tests to people at the drive through section and others seated in a social distanced queue. Authorities say timely results will be issued to participants.

Candidates are randomly selected and asked to consent to the testing. It is a 5-minute drive through, where car occupants are not required to vacate their vehicles.

“This operation will provide factual information about the COVID19 status in Kigali & will lead to tactical response activities. A request is made to all Kigali residents to cooperate with RBC teams for the sake of successful completion of this important activity,” RBC said in a tweet on Wednesday.

Confirmed cases = 1,042

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