Rwandan officials on Thursday urged all taxi-moto operators to comply with new guidelines in public transport as they are set to resume activities on Monday, 1 June after almost two month in suspension amid growing novel coronavirus fears.
Among other new guidelines issued by the Rwanda Utilities Regulatory Authority (RURA) include that all taxi-moto operators will to remove the helmet screens for passengers to limit the possibility of spreading the virus while it is recommended all the times to clean helmets and clothes to prevent the spread of the virus.
It was also recommended for each passenger to wash their hands using sanitizers, before and after any travel, while mobile money is from now on recommended as a new payment mode to avoid COVID-19 contamination.
In adddition to removing the protective screen from passengers’ helmets, Rwandan officials also asked users to always wrap their head with a cloth-like material to avoid any direct contact with the helmet and further minimise any chance of contracting the pandemic.
As Rwandan officials made way for lifting curbs on certain sectors to get economic activity restarted, some activities will remain closed including churches, Sports facilities, gyms, and recreational where there is a likelihood of sharing of equipment.
As part of national efforts to control the outbreak, the Rwanda Government has urged residents to continue to observe instructions from health authorities, particularly washing hands regularly, avoiding large gatherings, and reporting any symptoms.
Though the government has allowed moto taxis to resume activity, social distancing still remains a concern and Rwandan officials are trying to implement strict guidelines to allow a limited number of users who will first and foremost abide by the rules and guidelines set by public health experts.
In the meanwhile, Rwandan Health officials reported seven new lab-confirmed COVID-19 cases on Wednesday night, raising the total case count to 446.
There are currently 101 active cases in the country.. No patient has so far died from the deadly virus in Rwanda.
CU/abj/APA