All individuals that came into contact with people diagnosed with coronavirus will as well be tested immediately in addition to a 14-day institutional quarantine.
Ministry of Health official Christelle Muvunyi has told the media that since all people are now aware of the symptoms of coronavirus, it should be easy for everyone to report themselves to medical facilities for treatment.
Information from local leaders in Ruhango District indicates in Mwendo Sector, office buildings of the Kamujisho and Kubutare cell offices were destroyed; 26 homes left roofless, 47 kitchens damaged and 50 toilets left in a sorry state. Residents’ gardens of bananas, cassava and sorghum were also swept.
In Muhanga District, preliminary information shows that in Nyamabuye Sector, heavy rains and winds damaged 30 roofs;24 in Gahogo and 6 in Gifumba cells respectively.
Ten classrooms and dormitories at Muhanga Technical School, MTC, were also destroyed. Gahogo TVET Vocational School also suffered the rending as two classrooms and six toilets were swept down.
Local authorities in collaboration with security agencies have started to assess ways of reaching out to those that have been severely affected by the vagaries.
The epidemic has led to the closure of businesses in Rwanda and suspension of many non-basic business activities.
The decision follows a review and consideration by the executive committee and the board of directors on ways to further support customers and their businesses during the post COVID-19 recovery period.
Robin Bairstow, I&M Bank Chief Executive Officer stated that “by reducing the base lending rate, I&M Rwanda aims at making lending products more affordable to clients. SMEs account for a majority of businesses in Rwanda and contribute about half of Rwanda’s Gross Domestic Product as well as employment. We are aware of their role in the economy and I&M Bank Rwanda has brainstormed solutions to support them to get back on track after the lockdown.”
For example, on a mortgage of RWF 50 million, the reduction will put nearly RWF 19,000 per month back in the pocket of the average client of the Bank.
The rate reduction is in conjunction with the Bank’s commitment to offer a grace period of up to 3 months for principal and/or interest payments in support of business or retail clients who are being financially affected by the pandemic.
Bairstow said that the reduction of the base lending rate was implemented with an understanding that many clients’ businesses have been interrupted by the pandemic and could have cash flow and liquidity challenges.
A statement from I&M Bank (Rwanda) Plc signed by the CEO, Robin Bairstow, reads: “It is especially living in these times of living through a pandemic that I&M Bank wants to let you know that we are in this together. To support our clients and customers, we are reducing our base lending rate by 0.5% from 16.5% to 16% starting April 15, 2020.”
Bairstow also encouraged customers to make use of the many digital platforms at their disposal for transactions as one of the ways of nipping coronavirus spread.
“There are other innovations and interventions introduced to ease transactions. We have removed costs for sending money digitally; customers can use Spenn for free in all branches to avoid physical handling of money notes.
The distress call was made by Kayitare Léo Pierre, a member of the Huye District Joint Action Development Forum (JADF) while receiving food donations from local brewing company, Gisagara Agro Business Industries Limited, GABI.
The factory donated six tons of food, including beans, maize flour and rice in Huye, Gisagara, Nyaruguru, and Nyamagabe districts. One and a half tons of each type of food was provided.
GABI’s director, Munyampundu Célestin, said they had decided to donate food after realizing that some people are starving because their work was halted by the global COVID-19 epidemic.
“Some of those who stopped working are our customers and they are great partners. We are determined to do something about it. It is the contribution of the factory in these hard times as we continue to work together to prevent this epidemic.”
Kayitare said the food donation will boost families’ diets as many of them have been taking one meal a day.
“There are more than 7,000 families in each sector and we know their family members,” he said.
Kayitare said in the villages they are looking at people with food problems so that all of them can be helped with no one left.
As elsewhere, activities to help those affected by Coronavirus are being carried out also in other parts of the country.
Among those fined were those aimlessly found roaming about, those who opened bars and found drinking and some who had raised commodity prices.
“We have already fined them of four million, five hundred fifty thousand francs,” said the Gisagara district Deputy mayor Gisengayire Clemence.
Local authorities in the district have however urged residents to carry on with their farming activities to defeat famine and hunger which would invade their homes in case they stopped production.
It is said that in some markets in Huye District traders and buyers carry out transactions in close proximity to each other, posing risks of the virus spread in case one of the people is infected. This is common in Gishamvu, Rango and Rugogwe markets.
“In the Rango market, on Thursday or Sunday there are a lot of people mingling with a little caution,” one of the residents told IGIHE, calling on local authorities to address the risk.
Huye District Mayor Ange Sebutege said they are now focusing on markets and crowded centers to help people observe the social distance.
“We have now taken steps to ensure that if it is a market day, local leaders help people in queues to observe the recommended distance between them and comply with other preventive measures. ”
Muhanga District Mayor Kayitare Jacqueline, said the general public have cooperated in observing the guidelines save for some bar owners who open at night and motorists who carry passengers.
The mayor, without giving numbers and identities of individuals that have been fined and arrested, emphasized the importance of observing the guidelines in keeping flat the virus curve.
She explained that first offenders are counseled but repeat violations are met with penalties that include fines and imprisonment.
Currently, there are 105 cases of COVID-19 in Rwanda. Four who have been treated, healed, discharged and returned to their families.
The 26th anniversary comes at a time when Rwanda is under lockdown as one of the measures taken to prevent spread of COVID-19 caused by coronavirus that is currently ravaging the world.
NURC in a statement says that commemorating the Genocide is one of the activities that remind the world that the country will never allow genocide to ever happen again and strengthening the process of unity and reconciliation.
“As we commemorate, we urge every Rwandan to remember at home, to feel at home with others, to use the available means of communication by sending comforting messages,” the statement says.
“The National Commission for Unity and Reconciliation reminds all to refrain from spreading heart-wrenching rumors, to avoid messages of hatred, ridicule or to spread discrimination and genocidal ideology and other related negative acts.”
The statement says Rwanda’s progress in unity, reconciliation, and reconstruction gives confidence that the future is bright, but everyone needs to continue contributing to the progress on this journey.
For families with children at home, StarTimes has provided them with adequate programs through its channels, such as ST Kids, Nickelodeon, Da Vinci and Baby TV for young people to watch and learn.
In addition to the television site, these channels and content are also available on the StarTimes ON APP website, which is streamed and reviewed.
There will also be several children’s programs from April, with programs lasting from one to three hours. StarTimes says the ST Kids will change the schedule specially to fit younger kids ’hours.
Early in the morning, there will be a program for elementary school children, a series of children’s series before noon, and two hours of animation in the afternoon.
Home schools are a Television teaching program, opening doors to educate students at home due to the COVID epidemic. From March 27, the program runs every Monday through Friday at ST Kids Saturday at 10:00 a.m. which includes technology, crafts, drawing, and dance.
“We want every child to be safe and knowledgeable both in terms of health and education. Even if children don’t go to school today, they can continue to learn at home.”
Deng Sanming, CEO of StarTimes in Rwanda, says, “As the first television in Africa, the family is the basis of our strategy and children have a special role to play in families. When we are in a state of emergency, we make it a point to deliver educational programs to our customers so that every child can continue to learn daily, safely and at home”.
A statement from the Prime Minister’s Office on April 5, 2020, stated that “As part of our ongoing efforts to fight the Coronavirus epidemic, the Government of Rwanda has decided that all members of the Government, all Secretaries, Permanent Secretaries, heads of government agencies and other senior officials at the national level will sacrifice their April monthly salaries.”
“We continue to thank all Rwandans for their continued cooperation and for continuing to comply with the guidelines for the fight against the Coronavirus.”
On March 25, 2020, the government launched a program to provide necessities including food to the needy as all Rwandans are required to stay at home to prevent the spread of coronavirus.
