Coronavirus: Rwanda Extends National Lockdown
Rwanda is set to extend its current nationwide lockdown by 15 days.
Eighty-two cases of the coronavirus have been confirmed in the east African country so far – a dramatic increase from 17 in just two weeks.
To prevent the spread of the virus, a lockdown began on 21 March and was to end this Sunday, 5 April. During this period, Rwandan citizens were banned from leaving their homes unless they needed to shop for food or medicine.
At an online cabinet meeting held on Wednesday, 1 April, President Paul Kagame announced that due to the aforementioned virus increase, the lockdown will now end on Sunday, 19 April.
With the extension in place, borders are to remain closed except for goods, cargo, and returning citizens and legal residents who will be subject to a mandatory 14-day quarantine at designated locations.
Shops will remain open, while schools and places of worship will stay closed. The police will be deployed to make sure that people will adhere to the restrictions.
