The city of Kigali in Rwanda has announced the temporary closure of two of its major markets following a surge in Covid-19 cases, effective Monday. 

The city announced via a press statement on Monday that the Nyabugogo market in Mutangana and the central city market, known as the Kigali City Market, would be closed from August 17 to August 24 due to increased coronavirus cases being recorded in the city and the market areas over the weekend.

According to authorities, 219 of the 253 citizens that had tested positive for the virus since Friday were from Kigali, the capital city of Rwanda, and the country's largest city. 

Kigali mayor, Pudence Rubingisa said on Sunday said that those selling wares would be given time to remove their stock and relocate to other designated markets. 

“The leadership of both markets will inform those who sell perishables what their next area of operation will be," said Rubingisa. The areas would then be subjected to disinfection, he said. 

The country's health minister, Daniel Ngamije, said via Twitter that authorities would be investigating other markets in the city, particularly those operating in closed areas. "The decisions that will be made will be based on the picture of the status of the infection," he Tweeted.

He said that those at the markets were not adhering to social distancing, despite outbreak numbers increasing. 

The landlocked central African country has so far recorded 2 453 Covid-19 cases, 1 648 recoveries and eight virus-related deaths. It has performed 334 270 tests for the virus, according to real-time data tracking site, Worldometers.