The Democratic Republic of Congo has declared a shutdown in the capital, Kinshasa due to the outbreak of the corona-virus in the country.

Governor Gentiny Ngobila said all residents excluding essential workers such as medical staff, would have to stay home for four days starting Saturday.

Resident would then be allowed to stock up food in the following two days.

The same pattern is scheduled to be repeated for the next three weeks.

Governor Ngobila urged residents of Kinshasa not to panic or believe in false information.

Earlier this week, President Felix Tshisekedi ordered a ban on all travel to and from the capital.

DRC has recorded 54 confirmed cases so far and quarantined nearly two thousand people who have been in contact with COVID-19 patients.

Kinshasa is the only city to have recorded corona-virus cases in the country.