Western Highlands health authority lifts Covid-19 restrictions

By ELIAS LARI
RESTRICTIONS and curfews – referred to as lockdowns by police and provincial and district officers – were lifted on Thursday after being described as ineffective and confusing.
Western Highlands health authority chief executive officer Jane Holden said the provincial Coronavirus (Covid-19) task force committee decided to lift the restrictions because they had not been enforced by authorities such as the police.
“The provincial Covid-19 task force last week agreed that lockdown measures be lifted (because they) were not enforced and as a result confusing to the community,” she said.
Though schools were closed for three weeks and police organised checkpoints on a few roads in the province, life went on as usual for many people.
There was supposed to be a curfew from 6pm to 6am, restricted movements between 7am and 3pm when businesses could operate, no church services, no markets and no gatherings.
The restrictions began on Oct 18.
Holden said they had tried to restrict the movement of people after seeing the increasing number of the Covid-19 cases.
Airline companies were asked to follow strict Covid-19 protocols when passengers arrived at the Kagamuga Airport.
Passengers had to be tested on arrival and before departure.