Rwanda: Health officials revise and extend COVID-19-related restrictions until at least March 15 /update 17

Event

Officials in Rwanda have revised and extended the nation's existing nightly curfew and other health measures through at least mid-March as part of the government's efforts to slow the spread of COVID-19.

Under new measures, authorities will implement a 2000-0400 nationwide nightly curfew through at least March 15. Officials are also implementing the following measures nationwide through March 15:

• Movements between Kigali and other provinces and districts of the country remain banned, except for essential services and tourism. Vehicles transporting goods are exempted from the restriction while maintaining a maximum of two people on board.

• Public offices may resume with a maximum of 30-percent capacity.

• Private business may resume with essential staff at no more than a 30 percent capacity; market and malls will open for essential vendors and must not exceed 50 percent of registered traders. Businesses resuming operations must close by 1800.

• All schools, including universities, will resume.

• Public transport will resume operations at a maximum of 75-percent capacity.

• All bars remain closed; however, restaurants and cafes are allowed to operate at no more than 30 percent capacity.

• All physical meetings, events, and gatherings are prohibited.

International travel
International passengers arriving at Kigali International Airport (KGL) airport must present a negative COVID-19 polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test taken within 72 hours prior to departure. All arriving travelers must self-quarantine for seven days and take a PCR test at the end of this period. Officials require a similar test certificate upon departure from Rwanda.

Land borders remained closed except the border with DRC; the country's borders with Uganda, Burundi, and Tanzania are open for goods and cargo traffic, as well as returning Rwandan citizens and legal residents. However, travel restrictions may be subject to the guidelines of neighboring states. All returnees are subjected to mandatory quarantine in accordance with existing health guidelines at their own cost.

Rwandan authorities review the country's preventive measures every 15 days and could reimpose, extend, further ease, or otherwise amend any restrictions with little-to-no notice depending on disease activity over the coming weeks.

Resources

Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation (Twitter)
Ministry of Health
RwandAir
World Health Organization (WHO)