A cabinet meeting that met on Wednesday, September 1, directed for the resumption of physical concerts, festivals and exhibitions with restrictions.

The move came a year and a half after entertainment activities were halted to curb the spread of Coronavirus.

Now, Rwanda Development Board (RDB) on Saturday September 4 released guidelines to be observed during those shows.

Here are five guidelines to keep in mind:

1.     Live performances

All participants in live performances including event organizers and service providers must present a vaccination certificate and a negative Covid-19 test taken within three days.

"Attendees are also urged to adhere to social distancing norms and wearing a mask properly at all times during the shows,” reads a communique from RDB.

Permissions to hold live performances, exhibitions and festivals should be requested from the authorities 10 days prior to the event.

2.     Venue capacity

The concerts, exhibitions and festivals and other entertainment events permitted in all designated places and hospitality establishments shall be held at 30 percent capacity indoors and 50 percent capacity for outdoor spaces.

3.     Tourists  

Tourists visiting the country’s national parks will present a negative Covid-19 test upon arrival while a PCR test is required for those visiting Nyungwe, Volcanoes and Gishwati-Mukura national parks.

All tourists are asked to adhere to the curfew hours, and where this is not applicable like visiting Volcanoes National Park, they should apply for a movement clearance.

4.     Physical meetings

All physical conferences and meetings are permitted as long as attendees present a valid negative Covid-19 test taken within 72 hours.

All hotels, restaurant and cafés hosting meetings are asked to ensure their staff are tested for Covid-19 every two weeks whereas clients are also urged to get vaccinated and test regularly.  

The hospitality establishments are also encouraged to continue providing on-site Covid-19 testing facilities as all guests intending to stay in hotels and other accommodations must present the valid Covid-19 72-hours test.

5.     Swimming pools

Swimming pools and massage services in tourism establishments are open to resident and non-resident clients with a vaccination certificate and a negative Covid-19 test.

RDB through the same communique issued on Saturday continued to remind the public to adhere to the Covid-19 protocols.

"We remind the public to abide by the health and safety directives issued by the Ministry of Health to curb the spread of Covid-19,” it read.