The Ministry of Local Government has issued guidelines for resumption of house parties days after the cabinet further eased Covid restrictions. According to a statement released Monday evening and signed by Minister Jean Marie Vianney Gatabazi, home-based parties are permitted until 8p.m. However, house parties in Gicumbi, Karongi, Kirehe, Ngoma and Nyagatare districts are banned beyond 6p.m due to the relatively high prevalence of Covid-19 in those regions. “Anyone intending to host house parties has to alert the executive secretary of the cell through writing, indicating which type, size and duration of the event they are planning,” reads part of the statement. All guests are required to have negative Covid results taken within 72 hours. They are also required to comply with all other Covid-19 preventive measures, including social distancing as well as wearing masks when they are not eating or drinking. Organisers must put in place proper handwashing arrangements or avail sanitizers to be used by partygoers, the statement adds. The new development follows an announcement by Rwanda Biomedical Centre (RBC) on September 27, indicating that at least 21 per cent of the target population had been fully vaccinated.
