News & Analysis: Rwanda
“Rwanda’s Health Ministry said Monday that it has started a third phase of mass COVID-19 vaccinations using the Pfizer vaccine targeting adults 18 years and over in the capital Kigali. The ministry expects to reach over 90% of eligible people over a two-week operation at multiple vaccination sites across the districts of Gasabo, Kicukiro and Nyarugenge before extending the vaccinations to other secondary cities.”
“As the third wave of the coronavirus pandemic sweeps across Africa, the continent has become the most vulnerable region hit by the more transmissible Delta variant of the disease due to lack of vaccines and health facilities.”
“Rwanda on Tuesday announced tighter coronavirus lockdowns in 50 administrative areas as new cases surge. The measures were designed to keep people mostly at home in areas with the highest infection rates based on a health assessment, said local government minister Jean Marie Vianne Gatabazi.”
“The highest number of new COVID-19 infections were recorded in the month of June, according to the weekly Epidemiological Bulletin of July 4 from Rwanda Biomedical Centre.”
“‘The surge in cases has necessitated a lockdown in the city of Kigali and other 8 districts,’ read a statement issued by the Prime Minister’s Office. ‘Citizens are urged to significantly reduce social interactions, and limit movements to only essential services.'”
“The latest diagnostics and symptoms manifested in COVID-19 patients in Rwanda confirm the presence of Delta Variant in the country, an official has said. Dr Daniel Ngamije, Rwanda’s Minister of Health, said the current virus spreads faster, is deadlier and has symptoms different from what was known before.”
“East Africa is in the throes of a public health crisis as its healthcare systems sag under the weight of a rapid third wave of COVID-19, largely blamed on the deadly Delta strain.”
“Travelers arriving from India and Uganda or those who have traveled there in the last seven days will be required upon arriving in Rwanda to complete a mandatory seven-day quarantine, the Health Ministry said Wednesday in its updated rules which came into force Tuesday. The ministry encouraged airlines to check whether passengers have booked seven days in its designated hotels before boarding.”
“Rwanda has seen a spike in coronavirus infections in the past week with the positivity rate rising from 0.5 percent to 4.3 percent. Kigali was noted as the epicentre with more than half of the infections. A cabinet meeting on June 12, resolved, among others, that business activities shall close by 8pm and residents will observe a 9pm-5am curfew. The previous curfew ran from 10pm to 4am.”
“The Governor of Western Province has said that authorities have rolled out measures to curb COVID-19 violations in Karongi District, which was earlier this week placed under tough restrictions.”
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