Photo: Rwanda Prime Minister Edouard Ngirente

On Wednesday 1st April 2020 Rwanda extended national lockdown announced on 21st March in the country to 19th April 2020 as efforts to minimize spread of corona virus continue.

In a statement by Rwanda Prime Minister Edouard Ngirente it was made clear that only essential service providers would be allowed to move during this time.

Providers of services such as health care and banking would be excused, also those transporting food items can do so.

This communication came after a joint cabinet meeting that approved the measures.

Other conclusions reached are that public and private schools and other institutions of higher education would remain closed.

Places of worship have also been barred from conducting any functions, in a move to stop gatherings, as a crack down on unnecessary movement continues.

This comes amidst an increase in the number of confirmed cases in Rwanda, after the ministry of health and announced on Wednesday 1st April 2020 that there were 82 cases of Corona virus

The statement reinstates a lock down in the country because Rwanda had earlier on announced a two-week lockdown on 21st March 2020 and this is meant to extend the initially planned period.

President Paul Kagame said earlier last week in a televised address that these steps would determine how fast the country overcomes the corona virus pandemic.

Suspension of commercial passenger flights and closure of borders was among the initial measures by Rwanda which President Kagame said helped to prevent imported new cases.

According to the statement, President Kagame acknowledged the efforts made in adhering to the preventive measures that aimed at slowing down the spread of Corona virus in the country.

Apart from essential service providers, all other public and private sector employees in Rwanda are advised to work from home as travel is also prohibited except for medical reasons

A mandatory 14-day quarantine at designated locations is a must compliance on the part of returning Rwandan Citizens and legal residents while borders remain closed except for cargo and goods