The decision is part of cabinet resolutions taken yesterday, reviewing COVID-19 preventive measures following the gradual increase in new infections.

“All gyms and swimming pools are closed. However, those at hotels may be used only by tested hotel residents,” reads the resolution.

The decision goes into effect from 15th December 2020.

Among others, the national football premier league games and training camps are suspended except for national football team competitions and clubs involved in international competitions.

Like other wellness facilities and a number of activities, the functioning of gyms was suspended on 15th March 2020 one day after confirming the first COVID-19 case in Rwanda.

On 8th June 2020, the Ministry of Sports gradually allowed different sporting activities to resume staring with cycling, Tennis, Gold, Hiking and other physical exercises respecting social distancing.

Other sports were allowed to resume on 13th July 2020. These include Cricket, Boxing, Karate, Kung Fu, Taekwondo, Judo, Skating, Kumasha, Badminton, Aerobic, Gymnastics in open air and adhering to COVID-19 health guidelines.

Concerts were also suspended on 8th March 2020 thus artists opted for online concerts to entertain fans.

Among others, cabinet banned all social gatherings including weddings in public and private settings.

The new measures have been announced following the surging of COVID-19 new cases where over 700 people tested positive within 14 days as 6 succumbed to the virus in the same period.

The first COVID-19 case was confirmed in Rwanda on 14th March 2020. So far 6747 people have been tested positive out of 671,223 sample tests of whom 5996 have recovered, 695 are active cases while 56 have succumbed to the virus.

Gyms have been prohibited, two weeks after authorization to resume operations.