The Kigali municipality on Thursday issued guidelines that stipulate fines for people who violate public health measures put in place to prevent COVID-19 spread.
The guidelines stipulate a fine of 10,000 Rwandan francs (about 10.3 U.S. dollars) for not respecting social distancing or not wearing face masks. Wearing face masks improperly will also be fined.
Hosting illegal ceremonies that attract mass gatherings is liable to a fine of 200,000 Rwandan francs while visitors to such ceremonies will be fined 25,000 Rwandan francs, according to the guidelines, adding that the fine will double for second-time offenders.
Violators will also be held for 24 hours to undergo sensitization aimed at changing their mindsets, said the guidelines.
Other violations like declining mobile money payment system and using over 50 percent of employees by businesses will also attract a fine.
The guidelines were issued as the municipality reopened one of two major markets which had been closed for over two weeks due to a spike in new infections in the city, especially in the two markets.
As of Wednesday, Rwanda has 4,218 confirmed COVID-19 cases with 2,071 recoveries and 17 deaths
