Residents in Kigali, the Rwanda capital, defy lockdown rules by flooding the streets after the national football team qualified for quarter-finals of the African Nations Championship (CHAN) on Tuesday night.
The authorities imposed a 15-day lockdown on the city to limit a second wave of COVID-19 cases and it is expected to end next Tuesday.
All movements outside homes require an approved permit from the police, except for essential service providers.
But spontaneous street celebrations broke out in the city after Rwanda beat Togo 3-2 to qualify for the knockout stage in the tournament being held in Cameroon.
Most people did not wear face masks or adhere to social distancing, according to videos shared on social media:
“I could not remember coronavirus, it wasn’t possible to stay home. Noise and vuvuzelas could be heard everywhere until late after midnight,” Elie Karinganire, a city resident told BBC Great Lakes.
Some photos police intervening and ordering people to return indoors were shared.
The celebrations were held despite health officials confirming 574 new Covid-19 cases, the highest daily cases reported since the pandemic started.
January has been the deadliest month for the eastern Africa country. The authorities say more than half of the total deaths were recorded this month, as well as one third of the total 13,885 cases.
Rwanda will face either Guinea or Zambia in the next round of the CHAN football tournament.
BBC
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