The Prime Minister’s office on Tuesday announced that effective July 1, all schools and higher education institutions are closed in some parts of the country, given the surge in Covid-19 cases and the emergence of new variants globally. The measures will only be viable in the City of Kigali, which has been the leading hotspot of new infections, and eight other districts, for a span of two weeks. They include Burera, Gicumbi, Kamonyi, Musanze, Nyagatare, Rwamagana, Rubavu and Rutsiro. Also to be implemented are longer curfew hours starting from 6 pm through 4 am from the previous 7 pm through 4 am. In the same parts of the country, a communique from the Prime Minister’s office noted that schools and higher education institutions are closed. “Provisions for students sitting national exams in July 2021 will be communicated by the Ministry of Education,” reads part of the statement. Also closed are offices both public and private, with their staff expected to work from home. This will not apply to those providing essential services. Under the new guidelines, restaurants shall only provide takeaways, while places of worship shall be closed. In the remaining parts of the country, curfew hours have also been extended from 6 pm through 4 am from the previous 7 pm through 4 am. Places of worship adhering to health guidelines will continue to operate at 30 per cent. Vigils must not exceed 10 persons at any one time and funeral gatherings must not exceed 30 people. As it has been, however, movements between districts are not allowed, except for medical reasons and other essential services. Tourism activities will continue while arriving and departing passengers at the Kigali International Airport must provide a negative Covid-19 PCR test taken within 72 hours prior to their arrival or departure. To shed light on the new measures, Prime Minister Edouard Ngirente addressed local and international journalists. During the conference, various ministers including the Minister of Health Dr Daniel Ngamije, Minister of Local Government Jean-Marie Vianney Gatabazi as well as Minister of Trade and Industry Beata Habyarimana. Also, attendance is Inspector General of Police Dan Munyuza and the Private Sector Federation Vice Chairman Eric Gishoma This is a developing story…
