Among the new cases, 7 are from Kigali, 5 in Ngoma, 5 in Rusizi, and 4 in Kirehe.
Thursday, July 2, Rwanda Biomedical Center (RBC) started a new random COVID-19 testing program on the street of Kigali.
It began at the Stadium Amahoro and will continue in various other parts of the city, including in Nyamirambo and Kicukiro to determine the true picture of the pandemic on Rwandan soil.
Every 7 minutes, health workers, in collaboration with road safety officers, stop a group of people, whether in vehicles or pedestrians and ask them to take voluntary tests.
RBC says it plans by next week to have taken 5,000 tests.
The program which started on Thursday is expected to be carried out by various health authorities, including those in Kigali, those who are entering or leaving Kigali.
Minister of State in charge of Primary Health Care, Dr. Mpunga Tharcisse, told National Television that various test sites would be set up, making all the targeted categories visible.
Some of the test centers are; Stadium Remera, IPRC Kicukiro, and Camp Kigali in Nyarugenge District. For people traveling to and from upcountry, other test sites have been set up including Giti cy’Inyoni and Gatsata.
“We want to test everyone, especially people who are in different activities, those who are traveling in the city or those who are leaving the city to other places,” Dr. Mpunga continued.
“We want to carry out 5,000 tests which we believe we can achieve in a week or two. What we want to know is the severity of the pandemic in different parts of the city.”
It is an activity that must be done for free because it is in times of pandemic. He said that since in Kigali there are two million people who are not all tested, some are selected until the desired level is achieved.
According to Rwanda Biomedical Center, RBC, “Drivers, motorcyclists and pedestrians will be required to take only five minutes, tested and continue their journey.”
“We urge the people of Kigali to facilitate the work of these workers so that we can contain the pandemic. Let’s continue to work together #We will win # COVID19,” he said.
As of Wednesday, there were 1042 people infected with Coronavirus in Rwanda, including 480 who had recovered and three deaths.
The three-party eWTP (electronic World Trade Platform) partnership agreement was signed to help small and medium-sized businesses in Africa to take part in international electronic-trade.
Alibaba has already posted several Rwandan products on its website, in addition to promoting Rwanda’s tourism products.
Some of Alibaba’s best-selling products include Rwandan coffee, chilli and tea.
According to People’s Daily, a newspaper in China, since Rwanda joined the eWTP at the end of 2018, the importation from Rwanda (mainly coffee and chili) through Alibaba platforms increased by 124% in 2019; and the numbers of consumers purchasing Rwandan tourism products on Fliggy (Alibaba’s tourism site) has more than doubled.
In December 2018, Chinese tourists began to see or pay for their travel needs in Rwanda through e-commerce focused on tourism services, Fliggy.
The site, formerly known as Alitrip, belongs to Alibaba Group, founded by the wealthy Jack Ma. It helps Chinese tourists in the services they need such as getting air tickets, hotels, or paying for their travel expenses.
Since last year, Alibaba has been organizing online events aimed at promoting Rwandan coffee to Chinese consumers.
One such event took place on May 14, this year, and in it, about 1.5 tonnes of roasted Rwandan coffee beans were sold within a minute. It was part of a 10-minute talk show called “National Treasure”
On the market, Gorilla’s Coffee, which costs 500 grams, was priced at 118 yuan, equals to $ 16.63.
In January, a ton of Rwandan coffee was sold in 20 minutes, via Alibaba.
Rwanda’s chili products have been steadily gaining popularity on the Chinese market since the beginning of the year, and according to information from Alibaba, more than 60 tons of the chili has been imported since the beginning of 2019.
Alibaba is the world’s largest online commerce company and home to leading cross-border marketplaces where Chinese consumers look to find the highest quality products from around the world.
The Mayor of Bugesera District, Mutabazi Richard, speaking to Journalists who fight against HIV/AIDS in Rwanda (ABASIRWA) on July 1, 2020, said the aim is not to punish people but to educate them, adding that those who show disrespect for what they are told will be punished.
In Rwanda, 1,042 people have been diagnosed with Coronavirus from147,904 tests taken, of who 480 have recovered, 559 under medical care and three deaths.
A statement from Rwanda FDA said the decision was based on the fact that the hand sanitizer showed that it contained 99% methanol yet it doesn’t kill viruses or bacteria but it damages the skin and respiratory tract when inhaled and can burn and cause fire at any slight mistake.
The statement says that in the manufacturing of the said hand sanitizer, they use alcohol such as isopropyl or ethanol. The ethanol content should be between 70-80% and the isopropyl content at 75% in addition to other components including hydrogen peroxide and glycerin.
They expressed their emotions on June 29, 2020, when they were presented with about 6 water kiosks, 4 modern hand handwashing stations, and about 45 renovated water springs, which will be used to address the problems posed by the lack of clean water.
Some locals who used river water said they were relieved to access the new facilities for they had been taking dirty water from the streams, leaving their children susceptible to water borne diseases.
IGIHE interviewees point out that access to clean water will help them overcome these problems.
Dr. Yvonne Umurungi Serubibi, Deputy Chief of Party at USAID-Gikuriro program who contributed to the supply of clean water in Nyabihu, said that the goal of combating malnutrition cannot be achieved without hygiene and that the population can’t fight the COVID-19 pandemic without hygiene.
Mayor of Nyabihu District, Mukandayisenga Antoinette, reminded the residents to take good care of the water facilities provided to them as it is their business and to continue to be vigilant on COVID-19 prevention guidelines, especially the cleanliness and wearing masks properly.
The Nyabihu District Water Supply Project was implemented by the Nyabihu District in collaboration with their sponsor, the Gikuriro project, funded by USAID, and implemented by CRS, SNV, Caritas Rwanda.
The project was completed at a cost of more than Rwf100 million.
Rev. Karangwa was arrested in October 2019. He was charged with using a forged document while running for the position of Deputy Spokesperson for ADEPR, as it required that the candidate must have a Bachelor’s Degree.
He purported that he graduated from the Philippines and Uganda, but it turned out all his academic documents were fake.
On the evening of June 30, 2020, the Nyarugenge High Court handed down its final verdict in the case, declaring Rev Karangwa innocent.
“Court decided to accept the prosecution’s complaint because it came in the way and accordance with the law but finds it unfounded. It decided that the Prosecution should not extend the period of further investigation because the case has been in court for more than six months.”
It ruled that there was no irrefutable evidence against Karangwa John for making and using forged documents.
Rev. Karangwa John, who was imprisoned in Mageragere, was released and the news of his release was well-received by his family.
IGIHE learned that ADEPR had not yet replaced Rev Karangwa John.
Rev. Karangwa was elected ADEPR Deputy Spokesperson on May 20, 2017.
While the highest number of cases has been reported for days in Rusizi, Kirehe, Rubavu, and Kigali Districts; some have begun to think that the pandemic is only in those areas.
“Take the example of Rusizi District and take Kirehe District which is at the border areas and they are at risk these days. The city of Kigali, even though it does not work on the border, is a gathering place for large numbers of people from different regions,” Dr. Nsanzimana said.
“Our country is not so large that from one border to another or coming to Kigali it can be [five] hours which means that the pandemic can move from one border to another in the country even though the numbers appear to be high in the border areas,” he added.
“That number is high, but the fact that we know them is also good for the treatment of patients,” he said.
To date, 1,025 people have been diagnosed with Coronavirus in Rwanda, of which 444 have recovered while two have died, including a police officer and a driver.
Although many services are opened, Rwandans are urged not to think that the pandemic has ended. They are advised to abide by the established rules, remember to wear a mask every time they leave home, wash their hands frequently, avoid meetings and anything else that gathers many people and especially those who feel the symptoms of this pandemic including coughing, shortness of breath, weakness and so on, calling the toll-free line 114 for medical help.
At the Annual General Meeting held virtually on Monday, June 29, it was decided that each shareholder will be paid Rwf 3.72 per share.
The company has announced the revenue in 2019 fell to Rwf1.3 billion from Rwf1.5 billion in 2018.
The Annual General Meeting approved the Director-General of the National Security Board, RSSB, Regis Rugemanshuro as a member of the CTL Board of Directors, replacing Richard Tusabe.
The announcement was made on Monday, June 29, 2020, when the Office of the Rwandan Senate received the documents of the Property of the Ombudsman and the Deputy Ombudsmen and other staff members of the Office of the Ombudsman.
Receiving, saving, and monitoring annually information on the actual assets of the national authorities from the highest to the lowest level and other staff provided by law, is one of the main responsibilities of the Ombudsman office.
In this year 2020, the number of people required to declare their assets in the country is 13,000. The last date for the declaration of assets is 30 June 2020.
After submitting the declaration of assets to the Senate, the Ombudsman Murekezi said that among the officials and civil servants required to declare their assets, about 11,000 have already done so.
He said 15 people are under investigation for failing to explain the origin of their assets.
Of those 15, six were sent to court, seven are still under police investigation and two are still being investigated by the Ombudsman, he said.
Declaration of wealth is mainly to publicize property of government officials and public servants, to prevent leaders from misappropriating public funds.
For those who like to register property on other people so that they will not be discovered, the Ombudsman Murekezi warned them, urging them to stop it because it is a heinous act.
He also urged those who have not disclosed their assets to do so as soon as possible on Tuesday, June 30, otherwise, they will be punished.
