BUJUMBURA December 23rd (ABP) – The Spokesperson for the Ministry of the Interior, Community Development and Public Security, Mr. Pierre Nkurikiye held a press briefing on Tuesday December 21, 2021 during which he informed the public that, all the heat chambers called “Sauna” and all the leisure gatherings are suspended on the national territory. He urged the owners of those aforementioned places to close immediately, while explaining that they are promoting the spread of the coronavirus pandemic.
Mr. Nkurikiye said that, faced with the rise in the number of positive cases of Covid-19, the Ministry of the Interior, Community Development and Public Security reminds the population of the measures that have been taken to deal with this pandemic, including the suspension of karaoke and nightclubs as well as non-essential events.
He also reported that, in recent days, the ministry has observed that there is a slackening in the implementation of these barrier measures to prevent the spread of Covid-19, on the part of certain police officers and certain administrative staff, which allow such activities to be carried out even if they are suspended.
The spokesperson for the ministry having public security in its attributions indicated that, only the gatherings of worship are authorized, subject to the implementation of the barrier measures against the spread of Covid-19, in particular the social distancing, the washing of hands and wearing a mask, adding that physical distancing is mandatory in public places and places of assembly.
Mr. Nkurikiye further clarified that severe penalties are planned for people who test positive and who continue to spread the pandemic through the violation of self-containment.
He did not forget to point out that the local administration has the obligation to redouble vigilance to monitor, at the community level, people who show signs of this disease but who do not go to be tested, whereas the test is free.