The decision by City of Kigali authorities to close three roads in Biryogo, Nyamirambo and turn them into makeshift outdoor seating spaces for roadside restaurants has split public opinion.

The move, City Hall says, is designed to help decongest restaurants in the area, pointing at the fact that Covid-19 transmissions are more likely in enclosed, poorly ventilated settings.

"We are encouraging businesses and their clients to avoid indoor services as much as possible,” City mayor Pudence Rubingisa told The New Times Wednesday evening.

Social distancing, he said, is in most cases difficult to observe indoors, especially in places like restaurants, presenting a greater risk for Covid transmissions.

The move is part of a broader government effort designed to encourage members of the public to avoid or reduce time spent in ‘3 Cs’ settings (crowded places, close-contact settings, and confined and enclosed spaces).

"We want businesses to continue their operations but in safer environments,” the mayor said.

However, when The New Times visited the area earlier, Wednesday, some of the restaurant owners said many of their clients did not come because they could not find a place to park nearby while others were reluctant to walk to the area since both taxi-motos and cars are not allowed there.

"It’s now a restricted area for cars and taxi-motos, that means we have lost clients,” said Evariste Banamwana, of Fresh Restaurant Chez Murokore.

A patron who spoke on condition of anonymity told this reporter that one of the concerns of people was the safety of their cars or motorcycles if they were to park them far from the restaurants.

"There is a security aspect,” he said.

But Aimable Mutemberezi, a client, welcomed the idea of open-air spaces. "It is safer in the context of Covid, but you can also have a conversation with a friend outdoors while enjoying the atmosphere.”

Another patron at one of the restaurants in the area, Bernard Sematore, said he often travels from Kinyinya Sector in Gasabo District and goes to Biryogo in Nyamirambo, Nyarugenge District "to enjoy this green tea.”

"I can now have my drink outside, it gives you peace of mind when you are not in a crowded space especially in this era,” he added.

Asked about concerns related to the security for cars and motorcycles for people who wish to come to the restaurants in question, Rubingisa said they would work with local authorities to address the challenge.

Security teams will be put in place in the area, he said.

The mayor also said that the city intends to work closely with other partners, including local brewers, to provide umbrellas for the open-air settings. "This, of course, came at a short notice and people had not planned for these expenses but we have to find a way.”

Asked whether this was something they were piloting and it was likely to be extended to other parts of the city, Rubingisa said they would look at the feasibility of the same elsewhere but warned that not all places are conducive for such outdoor spaces.