COVID-19: Live performances to resume in Rwanda

The decision was made during a cabinet meeting chaired by President Paul Kagame at his official Urugwiro Village office in the capital Kigali. It was also decided that gyms and swimming pools would resume operations under strict guidelines.

Live performances and shows will incorporate safe management measures based on prevailing guidelines while prioritising the safety of artists, crews and audiences. The government is in the process of identifying new models and best practices for live performances to be conducted safely.

“Live performances and cultural shows will resume gradually upon fulfilment of COVID-19 preventive measures,” the presidency said in a communique. “The concerned institutions [the Rwanda Development Board, the Ministry of Youth and Culture and the City of Kigali], will provide detailed guidelines. Measures will be reviewed after 15 days upon a health assessment. Citizens are reminded of the critical importance of complying with health measures, including physical distancing, wearing face masks and hand hygiene. Penalties will be applied for non-compliance.”

Speaking to The New Times after the announcement, Kigali Jazz Junction organiser Remmy Lubega said: “The situation has been bad. Many artists are depressed and I think there is need to have social workers to engage critical industries that have been under lockdown for a long period of time and rebuild some form of positivity and recapture mental stability.

“Our appeal is to have these directives communicated down to executives and their teams such that there is fair treatment of artists and the premises where they will be performing.”

In June, the Ministry of Sports began opening various open-air sporting activities such as cycling, tennis, golf and hiking, among others. Last week, the Ministry of Health confirmed 72 new COVID-19 cases. Since the first COVID-19 case was reported on 14 March, Rwanda has registered 5 872 infections, 5 397 recoveries and 47 deaths.