Rwanda Has Scrapped A Requirement For Face Masks

Rwanda has scrapped a requirement for face masks in public, easing its strict coronavirus restrictions.

Rwanda’s vaccine rollout has been among the fastest in Africa, and around a third of its 13 million people have got booster shots. The prime minister’s office said late Friday:

Wearing face masks is no longer mandatory. However, people are encouraged to wear masks indoors.

Citizens and Rwanda residents must be fully vaccinated in order to access public places (including public transport). Fully vaccinated means having two doses and a booster when eligible.

The authorities also announced that visitors will no longer have to take PCR tests, but can take antigen tests instead before travelling and after arriving.

Since the pandemic, Rwanda has implemented a rigorous testing and contact tracing regime, recording 1 459 COVID-19 deaths. A number of countries have removed the face mask requirement as coronavirus cases decreased.

More: AFP