Among others, 229 new cases have been found out of 4275 sample tests while 473 have recovered.
The statement released last night shows that majority new cases were found in Kigali: 57, Nyamagabe: 32, Gisagara: 21 while Nyabihu, Rutsiro, Kirehe and Nyanza districts recorded zero case.
Rwanda confirmed the first COVID-19 patient on 14th March 2020. Since then, 15688 people have been tested positive of whom10745 have recovered, 4738 are active cases while 205 have succumbed to the pandemic.
The prevalence of new infections, recoveries and deaths currently stands at 5.4%, 68.4% and 1.3% respectively.
The Ministry of Health has revealed that 19 Coronavirus patients admitted at Covid-19 treatment centers are critically ill.
Coronavirus symptoms include coughing, flu, and difficulty in breathing. The virus is said to be transmitted through the mucous membranes of the respiratory tract.
Rwandans are urged to adhere to COVID-19 health guidelines, washing hands frequently using soaps and safe water, wearing face masks and respecting social distancing.
The cabinet chaired by President Paul Kagame has decided that these measures will take effect from 3rd to 7th February 2021.
“To further contain spread of the pandemic, the Cabinet extended existing measures countrywide including the current lockdown in the city of Kigali from 3rd to 7th February 2021,” reads part of cabinet statement.
The cabinet meeting also set new measures to be effected countrywide from 8th to 22nd February 2021.
{{Specific measures in the city of Kigali }}
a) Movements are prohibited between 7pm to 4am
b) Public offices will be closed. All employees shall work from home, except for those providing essential services.
c) Private businesses will resume with essential staff at no more than 30% of staff capacity while other employees continue working from home on a rotational basis. Markets and malls will open for essential vendors and must not exceed 50% of registered traders. Businesses resuming operations must close by 5pm.
d) All schools (public and private) including universities will remain closed.
e) Movement between Kigali and other provinces and districts of the country is not permitted, except for essential services or tourism. Tourists must possess negative Covid-19 test results. Additionally, vehicles transporting goods will continue to function with no more than two people onboard.
f) Public and private transport will resume within Kigali. Public transport (buses) should not exceed 50% capacity. Bus operators will ensure passengers maintain social distancing and only passengers with masks will be allowed onboard.
g) Motos and bicycles are permitted to carry passengers and must observe strict hygiene.
h) Physical meetings, events and gatherings are prohibited
i) Gyms and recreational centers will remain closed. All swimming pools are closed except for those at hotels hosting testes guests. Only individual sports are permitted between 5am and 9am.
j) Restaurants and cafés will only provide catering service
k) All bars remain closed
l) Places of worship remain closed
m) Kigali International Airport will remain open. Arriving passengers must present a negative PCR taken within 72 hours prior to first departure. Departing passengers must present a negative PCR test before departure. All arriving passengers must self-quarantine for 7 days and take a PCR test at the end of this period.
n) Tourism activity will continue in strict adherence with COVID-19 health guidelines. This includes hotels, tour operators and transport service facilitating guests. Tourists and service providers shall inform RDB of itineraries.
o) Attendance at a wake/vigil (ikiriyo) should not exceed 10 people at any one time
p) Funeral gatherings should not exceed 15 persons
q) Gaming activities remain prohibited
{{Measures in the remaining part of the country}}
a) Movements are prohibited between 7pm to 4am
b) Movement between districts is prohibited
c) Schools will continue while respecting COVID-19 control measures
d) Places of worship remain closed
e) All social gatherings and events including religious wedding ceremonies, receptions, meetings, and conferences are prohibited
f) Public transport including motos and bicycles will continue
g) All bars will remain closed
h) Public gyms and swimming pools shall be restricted from the public with the exception of tested of tested guests staying at hotels
i) Attendance at a wake/vigil (ikiriyo) should not exceed 10 people at any one time
j) Funeral gatherings should not exceed 15 persons
k) Gaming activities remain prohibited
Considering the Covid-19 pandemic, the Cabinet also approved a Ministerial Order on the postponement of elections of Local Government and other specific elections that were scheduled for February and March 2021.
Mwandwe says that it is instead, time for Tshisekedi to deliver on what he promised people who voted him in 2018.
Since last year, DRC has seen many political developments including the divorce between the alliance of Joseph Kabila’s coalition FCC and that of Tshisekedi, CACH.
Tshisekedi’s side has been accusing that of his predecessor which enjoyed majority in both parliament and government, of barring some development projects aimed at fulfilling pledges Tshisekedi made during elections.
By the end of last year, Tshisekedi made some reforms including conducting political consultations to form a new majority in national assembly, which saw senator Modeste Bahati Lukwebo, the former ally of Joseph Kabila nominated to help in forming Tshisekedi’s new political grouping, known as the Sacred Union.
Lukwebo presented his report last week to the president, and announced that more than 390 lawmakers agreed to join the new coalition. It was the same week that Prime Minister Sylvestre Ilunga Ilunkamba resigned with his government, after being voted out by the parliament.
Mwandwe who is also a lecturer at University of Likasi in Kinshasa, told IGIHE that he does not think Kabila will retaliate.
He said that Kabila has had his 18 years in office, and he has nothing left to offer.
“The new identified majority has nothing to do with individual, instead, it was formed to improve citizens’ life, It is about the country. I do not think that President Kabila after eighteen years of power, has something else to offer”, he said
Mwandwe added that Kabila has done what he could “and now, it’s time for the current president, Felix Antoine Tshisekedi to implement his vision through the next government.”
Though Kabila has no majority both in parliament and government, he still has some people who are loyal to him and who are ready to fight back.
For Mwandwe, he doesn’t see it happening, because “Congolese people know President Kabila and he knows his limits”.
He adds that people should take DRC as a different nation from what it used to be.
“People should understand that the DRC has moved from a country which could not give hope to its citizens, to a country envisioning hope for its citizens. Majority of Congolese are focused on implementing the new president’s vision”, Mwandwe said.
After resignation of DRC Prime Minister Ilunkamba last week, the big task that lies ahead of president Tshisekedi is to form a new government made of new faces from Sacred Union.
The cabinet meeting of 18th January 2021 chaired by President Paul Kagame imposed lockdown in Kigali following the upsurge in Covid-19 cases in the city.
RNP spokesperson, CP John Bosco Kabera, has told RBA that violators were caught for breaking restrictions organizing house parties among others.
“These include people not wearing face masks. There has been sensitization for the past ten months that every Rwandan should own that responsibility,” he said.
“Secondly, people are caught in bars. Police has been arresting people for drunken driving during the lockdown. This shows how people don’t adhere to measures properly. There are other people caught holding parties or congested yet health workers have for several times educated them on the severity of the pandemic and how it rapidly spreads,” added CP Kabera.
Rwanda confirmed the first Coronavirus patient on 14th March 2020.
Covid-19 deaths are increasing where 198 patients have succumbed to the pandemic while 15459 have caught the virus. The prevalence of new infections stands at 4% while recoveries stand at 66, 4%.
Coronavirus symptoms include coughing, flu, and difficulty in breathing. The virus is said to be transmitted through the mucous membranes of the respiratory tract.
Rwandans are urged to adhere to COVID-19 health guidelines, washing hands frequently using soaps and safe water, wearing face masks and respecting social distancing.
The accelerated international response to the current public health emergency is an illustration that when we combine our efforts, we have the capacity to prepare for future threats but also, to act on pre-existing ones. In that context, the Commonwealth, which has been leader on environment and climate change that continue to affect communities around the globe, could also play a key role in ensuring equitable access to and distribution of fairly priced COVID-19 vaccines.
The 26th Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) scheduled to take place in June 2021, in Rwanda, under the theme “Delivering a common future: connecting, innovating, transforming”, will be an opportunity for Commonwealth Leaders to reflect on new forms of global governance while, also, assessing key decisions taken during CHOGM 2018. It will also be the occasion to build unified positions ahead of key upcoming events, including the 26th UN Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP26) scheduled for early November 2021, in Glasgow, UK.
It is indeed time to put our words into action, by making our governance models more inclusive; by making our health systems more resilient; by ensuring our economies and trade attain sustainable growth; by strengthening our social protection systems; by taking bold action on climate and by unlocking the advantages of technology for development.
We must adapt our national, regional and international systems to respond to both current and pressing challenges and as our talented and innovative young people will inherit this world, we shall do it with them, rather than for them.
Let us build on CHOGM’s momentum, to strengthen existing strategic partnerships and alliance as well as build new ones towards achieving the UN Sustainable Development Goals, as well as other major international commitments designed to preserve global common goods.
As we look ahead with optimism that the global health situation will improve over the next few months, Rwanda, as the youngest member of the Commonwealth family of Nations, is looking forward to welcoming all of you in your extended home.
Our national COVID-19 response has been focused on multi-sectoral collaboration and built upon regional and international responses. As we continue to strengthen our capabilities, be reassured that we will host you in a safe environment, in respect of all World Health Organization recommendations.
Murakaza neza mu Rwanda! (Welcome to Rwanda!)
{{The article was first published in Commonwealth Voices
The author (Hon Dr. Vincent Biruta) is Rwanda’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation}}
The bridge worth Rwf 74 million will provide essential safe access for the local communities.
The bridge comes in handy as neighboring communities will get relief from River Mwogo floods that have been causing grievous damages to the environment and resulting into deaths in some cases.
The flooding of the river flowing through Kamegeri sector has been obstructing movements with students missing classes while some residents trying to cross the flooded river were swept away.
Residents in neighboring communities have told IGIHE that the river washed away nine people recently whose bodies were not retrieved.
“The river once washed away four people from a nearby business center. Later on, four residents including a woman and a child were swept away but efforts to retrieve their bodies remained futile,” said Ntakirutimana Vincent.
Nyamagabe district vice mayor for economic affairs, Kabayiza Lambert has explained that the bridge was constructed to enhance free movements.
“The bridge constructed last year connects Kamegeri, Rususa and Bwama cells in Kamegeri sector,” he said.
Kabayiza also revealed that Nyamagabe district has expended considerable resources to remove barriers hindering movements including the renovation of bridges.
“We built four suspension bridges in 2020 that were an addition to three bridges constructed the previous year,” he said.
Other bridges were built in Kamegeri, Cyanika and Gatare sectors among others.
The district targets to build 30 suspension bridges over different rivers.
GC B2B (https://globalconnectb2b.com/) is a platform that is both a marketplace and a transactional portal for buyers and sellers to trade their products/services in ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) and globally.
This portal helps businesses connect to one another, allows suppliers to view and reach out to buyers and enables the establishment of a manufacturer and distributor/reseller partnership to be built.
Suppliers can also directly market their products and services to other companies across sectors including F&B services and manufacturing, digital/ICT, healthcare & biomedical, built environment, engineering, logistics, manufacturing (non-food), general services and more. With this platform, companies can connect to new markets, buyers and suppliers, and expand their business connections.
This platform was introduced to Rwanda in the last quarter of 2020. In November 2020, the first demonstration session was held with the participation of around 10 companies. To reach out to more companies, another demo-session was scheduled on Tuesday 26th January 2021, attracting the participation of more than 90 Companies from Rwanda who showed their interest in joining this platform.
The High Commissioner of Rwanda to Singapore, Amb. Jean de Dieu Uwihanganye, has emphasized on the importance of the platform noting that it will not only ensure easy access to the Singapore market but also ASEAN.
Singapore is the 6th biggest export country to Rwanda. The entry of Rwandan business to GC B2B is expected to increase exports and render imports more secure.
The message was delivered yesterday as Rwanda celebrated Heroes Day for the 27th time under the theme ‘Heroism among Rwandans, our dignity’.
Rwanda celebrates Heroes Day on 1st February where Rwandans inside the country and abroad reflect on selfless bravery that characterized heroes who strived for freedom, unity and reconciliation of all Rwandans.
Amb. Hategeka has requested Rwandans in Saudi Arabia and Bahrain to uphold the legacy.
“This year’s theme reminds us to model heroism in our daily lives. Our heroes left a good culture of loving Rwanda and selfless dedication,” he said.
Amb. Hategeka also encouraged Rwandans to embrace Rwandan values wherever they are serving as the foundation for attaining individual progress and their country of origin.
“I want you to exhibit Rwandan values, patriotism, and competitive spirit, gain new knowledge among other things paving the way for your progress, family and our nation. I wish you everlasting heroism,” he encouraged.
National Heroes Day was observed under strict Covid-19 preventive measures. Public talks for marking the day were delivered via mainstream media and other online platforms.
Rwanda started celebrating Heroes Day after the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi.
The statement released last night shows that new cases were found in Kigali: 60, Kirehe:23, Rwamagana: 10, Nyagatare:7, Nyamagabe:7,Gakenke:6, Huye: 6, Gisagara:5, Kamonyi:5, Gicumbi:3, Ngoma:3, Gatsibo:3, Karongi: 3, Musanze:1, Rusizi:2, Muhanga:2, Rubavu:2, Ruhango:2, Ngororero:2, Nyanza:1 and Nyamasheke:1.
Rwanda confirmed the first Coronavirus patient on 14th March 2020. Since then, 15 459 people have been tested positive out of 890 156 sample tests of whom 10 272 have recovered, 4989 are active cases while 198 have succumbed to the virus.
Coronavirus symptoms include coughing, flu, and difficulty in breathing. The virus is said to be transmitted through the mucous membranes of the respiratory tract.
Rwandans are urged to adhere to COVID-19 health guidelines, washing hands frequently using soaps and safe water, wearing face masks and respecting social distancing.
The violators were found in the two separate houses in Bikara and Karambi cells of Nkotsi Sector.
Chief Inspector of Police (CIP) Alex Rugigana, the Police spokesperson for the Northern region, said that Police received information from local residents about people, who were gathered praying.
“At about 10am on Sunday, Police found 89 people in the house of one Uwitije Alphonsine and five others in the house of Uwamungu Jean Claude, praying.
They had violated all the COVID-19 prevention guidelines,” CIP Rugigana said.
The violators are from different religious denominations from various sectors of Musanze District including youth and children.
“Of the 89 people found congested in the house of Uwitije, 49 of them had no face masks, but even those that had them were not wearing them. They were congested in a small room, no social distancing and they did not wash their hands,” the spokesperson said.
He added that Uwitije and Uwamungu have been caught in similar violations in the past and educated on the directives and health guidelines hoping to change their behaviours.
“Musanze is one of the districts where cases of COVID-19 infections are detected almost everyday. It’s absurd that in light of such situation, there are people, who can still think of holding gatherings where one infected person can easily spread the virus to everyone.”
At least 16 positive cases have been registered in Musanze District between January 25-30.
CIP Rugigana urged the public to adhere to the directives and health guidelines for their safety and thanked those who report such violations.
All the violators were taken to Ubworoherane stadium where they will be educated on the COVID-19 prevention measures but also penalised for flouting the directives.
