Just like Rwanda, with Discipline Kenya can flatten the COVID-19 curve

Our Neighbour Rwanda Has Very Few Cases of Covid-19 Infections and Deaths; Because Her People Are More Disciplined than Ourselves

Timely interventions, meticulous contact-tracing and upscaled testing have seen Rwanda emerge as a model of Covid-19 handling in the region as it recorded only three deaths.

Kigali recently reopened its airspace for international passenger flights from August, barely a month after it reopened its tourism facilities.

Late last month, Rwanda earned praise from the European Union Council, which alongside other 14 countries recommended the lifting of travel restrictions, with Germany’s Robert Koch Institute declaring it “no longer a Covid-19 risk area”.

So far, the country has 1,175 positive cases from over 150,000 tests in comparison with Kenya’s 9,726 from its 207,987 samples over a similar period. How is Kigali getting it right?

Rwanda’s systematic containment measures that involved strict enforcement of lockdown on neighbourhoods like Rubavu and Rusizi with suspected positive cases to suppress community infections worked for it. Like Kenya, the movement was banned in parts of the country. However, unlike Kenya where policing was clouded in corruption, civil obedience ensured this measure succeeded in Rwanda.

 “We conducted several surveys in Rubavu after it had been placed under lockdown, and we did not find any more community transmissions. Rusizi is still facing community transmissions,” Dr Sabin Nsanzimana, the director of Rwanda Biomedical Centre

In June, the country recorded over 30 cases, hitting the 1,000 marks. This pales in comparison with Kenya, which has recorded over 8,500 positive cases, yet Kigali was first in the region to confirm a Covid-19 patient.

Rwanda has also scaled up it’s testing, doing an average of 4,000 samples daily, which gives it a clear picture of the mapping it requires. Last week, it began implementing a random testing scheme on the streets of the capital, with a further drive-through testing scheme at the national stadium as it hoped to increase the population tested.

The Rwanda Biomedical Centre says that the Covid-19 street survey testing will be targeting 5,000 people daily. It will take place on all entry points of Kigali.

“On July 2, we are launching a Covid-19 street testing survey in Kigali and at its entry points. Candidates will be randomly selected and asked to consent to the testing. This is a 5-minute drive through, where car occupants are not required to vacate their vehicles,” Rwanda Biomedical Centre said last week

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