City of Kigali authorities on Wednesday, June 23, closed off a few roads to motorists in the Buryogo area of Nyamirambo suburb, turning sections of roads into outdoor dining areas. The decision to allow the restaurants to create the makeshift open-air settings is part of a broad national campaign to discourage businesses from serving clients indoors, often in small, poorly ventilated structures that make it impossible to observe social distancing. Enclosed spaces and close-contact settings, along with crowded places, dubbed as ‘3 Cs, have been cited as areas where Covid-19 spreads superfast compared to open-air and well ventilated spaces. Many businesses can still provide as good (if not better) a service outdoors. But, in this case, it is absolutely necessary, especially for businesses that cannot guarantee social distancing and sufficient ventilation inside their premises. Clients too need to embrace outdoor services, including at restaurants. There is a tendency for many to prefer indoors when it comes to eating. But this era is like no other. The same applies to other public places, including schools. For instance, students should use outdoor spaces during revision. We are all called upon to take personal and collective precautions. We are called upon to make personal sacrifices and let go of personal comforts for the common good. Regardless of the nature of service sought, always choose outdoor service. Well, where feasible. Like masking up and thorough handwashing or sanitising, embracing outdoor settings is an important weapon in the fight against this ruthless pandemic. Indeed, open-air settings are no substitute for other Covid preventive measures. As this publication argued earlier this week, Covid measures must not be observed selectively. It’s a whole range of measures that must be observed at all times, they all complement each other. Leveraging tech way to go Meanwhile, with new confirmed Covid cases rising by the day, it has emerged that many tertiary institutions have devised new measures to help contain the surge. Some have since suspended physical classes, reverting to online learning. Many had already invested in online platforms (and it served them well during the first year of the pandemic) and leveraging technology at a time we are seeing a surge in cases is the way to go. The same goes for the labour market. There is a need for employers and industry captains to yet again make use of digital technologies to ensure continued productivity without requiring all employees to come to office. Even as the guidelines require that a maximum of 50 per cent of employees be in office at any time during working hours, it would be better if employers actually targeted a much smaller per cent age, with the others working remotely. If public offices can afford to do with 15 per cent, private employers too can aim at less than 50 per cent. This allows for social distancing and reduces chances of the virus spreading. To contain the latest wave each one of us will need to go the extra mile and do more than just the bare minimum.
