Author: Nicole Kamanzi Muteteri

The statement released by the Ministry of Health shows that new patients have been found in 17 districts and Kigali city where the majority of new cases are reported.

New cases have been found in Kigali: 246, Gatsibo: 13, Rulindo: 11, Kirehe: 9, Gakenke: 8, Karongi: 6, Musanze: 6, Nyagatare: 5, Ruhango: 5, Rubavu: 4, Huye: 3, Muhanga: 3, Ngoma: 3, Gicumbi: 2, Kamonyi: 1, Nyamasheke: 1, Nyanza: 1 and Rwamagana: 1.

Among others, the Ministry of Health has reported two people including a 57-year old woman from Nyamagabe and 63-year old man from Kigali who have succumbed to COVID-19 pandemic.

101 recovered have been also recorded for the past 24 hours.

Rwanda confirmed the first COVID-19 case on 14th March 2021. Since then, 12 975 people have been tested positive out of 830 808 sample tests of whom 8420 have recovered, 4381 are active cases while 174 have succumbed to the pandemic.

Following the steady rise of Coronavirus infections, Kigali was on 18th January 2021 placed under lockdown.

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 statement released last night shows that new cases were found in Kigali: 72, Ruhango: 62, Gicumbi: 18, Rwamagana: 10, Kirehe: 10, Karongi: 7, Kamonyi: 7, Ngoma: 5, Nyagatare: 4, Nyamasheke: 3, Rubavu: 3, Nyamagabe: 2 and Gisagara: 1.

Rwanda confirmed the first COVID-19 case on 14th March 2020. Since then, 12647 people have been tested positive out of 822,515 of whom 8319 have recovered, 4156 are active cases while 172 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.

Some of affected residents include masons, mason-helpers, potters, and motorcyclists, cyclists among others with inadequate means to feed their families or themselves.

The foodstuffs distributed in different parts of Kigali yesterday include rice and beans whereby beneficiaries received foodstuffs corresponding the number of family members.

The donations have been delivered to villages where local leaders ccordinated the distribution to targeted beneficiaries at their homes.

The executive secretary of Remera sector, Karamuzi Godfrey has told IGIHE that leaders of ‘Isibo’ groups (that are part of the village set up) are distributing food relief to beneficiaries’ homes to contain the spread of Coronavirus.

“We are delivering foodstuffs to cell offices from where village leaders are picking them to be distributed to needy residents by Isibo leaders,” he said.

Mukase Asia Diane from Rwezamenyo sector in Nyarugenge district is among food relief beneficiaries in Kigali city. A nursery school teacher, Mukase has revealed that she has been out of work since Covid-19 emerged in 2020. She expressed delight for the donation that came in handy during the lockdown.

“We have been laid off since Covid-19 emerged. We have been hit hard for 11 months because we no longer receive salaries. My thanks go to our leadership for taking care of us by providing food. May God grant them more wealth,” she said.

The foodstuffs were distributed to affected residents in different sectors of Nyarugenge and Gasabo districts.

They were arrested in separate operations conducted on Thursday, January 21, in the five districts of Ngoma, Kirehe, Rwamagana, Nyagatare and Bugesera.

According to Chief Inspector of Police (CIP) Hamdun Twizeyimana, the Police spokesperson for the Eastern Province, those arrested include 11 bars owners, who were found operating the prohibited business. Others were their customers.

Bars are among the businesses that are still closed in this period as part of the government efforts to combat the COVID-19 pandemic.

“The violations were reported by residents, who saw these bars operating and people inside drinking. It was easily for one infected person to infect everyone who was inside because besides operating the prohibited business, there was no other prevention measures; no washing hands, they had no masks, they were close to each other and even some of them were sharing drinks,” said CIP Twizeyimana.

“We are in a situation when COVID-19 cases and related fatalities continue to spike up and we are seeing positive cases in all parts of the country. A single violation can be fatal to many,” he added.

The violators, he said, will face varied penalties but added that “no one should be penalised for putting their lives and those of others at risk. Safety and good health should be the priority.”

Out of 310 COVID-19 positive cases reported by the Ministry of Health on January 21, 41 were from Ngoma, nine in Nyagatare and six in Kirehe.

On January 20, eleven cases were registered in Ngoma and four in Nyagatare.

At least 79 positive cases were also recorded in Ngoma on January 19, while 11 others came from Nyagatare, three in Kirehe and two in Rwamagana.

As of January 21, Rwanda had registered 12170 positive cases of COVID-19, with 7973 recoveries and 162 related fatalities.

Meanwhile, CIP Twizeyimana said that on the same day of January 21, two vehicles, 41 motorcycles and 84 bicycles were also impounded in the Eastern Province after owners were caught during prohibited movements hours.

Apart from City of Kigali, which is under lockdown, movements in the rest parts of the country are prohibited between 6pm and 4am. Movements beyond districts are also prohibited.

CIP Twizeyimana said that the Police, local authorities, youth volunteers and other community policing groups are working together in the region to implement the directives through education and enforcement on wearing face mask, washing hands and social gathering especially in business centres as well as preventing social gatherings, movements beyond 6pm or beyond districts.

Among others, 273 new cases have been found out of 4,857 sample tests while 211 have recovered.

The statement released last night shows that new cases were found in Kigali: 116, Gatsibo: 57, Rwamagana: 18, Muhanga: 17, Nyanza: 16, Musanze: 14, Ngoma: 7, Karongi, 7, Nyagatare: 5, Rulindo: 5, Gicumbi: 3, Kamonyi: 2, Nyamagabe: 2, Rubavu: 2 and Gisagara: 2.

Rwanda confirmed the first Coronavirus case on 14th March 2020. Since then, 12443 people have been tested positive out of 817,800 sample tests of whom 8184 have recovered, 4094 are active cases while 165 have succumbed to the pandemic.

Kigali city continues to be the hotspot for new infections where 111 of new cases were found yesterday.

Rwanda Biomedical Center (RBC) has announced plan to test 20,000 people from Kigali city effective from Saturday 23rd January 2021 targeting elders above 79 and people with chronic diseases.

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.

As the persons living with disabilities have explained, they have been making long walks to reach pitch for exercises or would participate in competitions without preparations, thus standing minimal chance to win.

Imanaturikumwe Emmanuel is one of beneficiaries who told IGIHE that received infrastructure will add up to their performance.

“Before, we used to walk long distance for exercises at TTC Kirambo. The pitch was not properly built covered with rough concrete. Due to such difficulties, we would sometimes compete without preparations that we didn’t perform well,” he said.

The coordinator of the National Council of Persons Living with Disabilities in Burera district, Ndayambaje Théoneste has also highlighted that the infrastructure anticipates victories to beneficiaries.

“We used to exhibit poor performance compared to Rubavu and Musanze teams because they were trained on smooth pitches. We shall undoubtedly win when competitions resume because we have received a modern pitch. We promise to induce pride to the district which has provided the facility,” he noted.

The mayor of Burera district, Uwanyirigira Marie Chantal has explained that they will continue supporting people with disabilities.

“Persons living with disabilities have proven that they can achieve great things. We are committed to continue proving support to promote their welfare,” he said.

The Sitball pitch in built in Kirambo center of Rusarabuye sector in burera district.
It was completed at a cost of Rwf over 11 million.

As they explained, they seek health services in Macuba sector after walking for two hours and half yet they have a health post in the neighborhood which is almost useless.

Habiyeze Damascène, one of residents has said that it is unfortunate to make such long walks due to poor service at the health post built in neighborhood.

“Health workers at the health post are often absent because they live far. We walk long distance for two and half hours to access health services in Mataba of Macuba sector yet there is health post closer to our homes. It is so saddening,” he said.
Macuba residents appeal for support so that the health post can be operational from morning hours.

“You can understand how serious the problem is because you can fall sick overnight and find no one at the health post in the morning. We need advocacy so that nurses can be present at work early every day to access health services closer to our homes. That is why the Government built the health post,” said Tuyishime Vestine.

The vice mayor for social affairs in Nyamasheke district, Mukamana Claudette has said that they are seeking a durable solution.

“The health post is no longer offering goods services as before. We are going to engage with the management of nearby health center so that the health post can be operation every day to facilitate access to health services,” she said.

The Government of Rwanda targets universal easy access to health services by 2024 whereby every cell will have own health post.

It is said that fire has caught a dormitory accommodating 227 girls in the wee hours of 22nd January 2021 destroying mattresses, clothes, bags among other properties worth over Rwf 1 million.

The vice mayor for social affairs in Rubavu district has told IGIHE that no one lost life.

“The dormitory accommodating girls caught fire around 4 am but no one lost life during the incident. Some items were also saved,” he said.

Ishimwe explained that Police rushed to extinguish the fire that students have resumed courses as usual.