Congo-Brazzaville orders Christmas, New Year Covid-19 lockdown to prevent surge in cases

Congo-Brazzaville will be placed under a nationwide lockdown for the Christmas and New year day, government spoksman Thierry Moungalla said on tuesday, as the authorities looks to prevent a fresh surge in coronavirus cases.

This announcement comes after a meeting of the national coordination of the management of covid-19 held Tuesday on the authority of the Congolese president Denis Sassou N'Guesso

Under the new rules, non-essential shops will be shuttered on Dec. 25 and Jan. 1. On those days, Congolese will only be allowed to move for health or emergency reasons.