The Ministry statement said that the new cases relate to the Rusizi cluster, they have been isolated and contacts traced.
There are no more deaths registered, except the two that were registered on May 30 and June 3 respectively.
Rwanda has today concluded the first week since public transport and the moto transport resumed across the country.
Last week has seen the confirmation of cases that were mostly detected in the Rusizi district of western province, while others are truck-drivers at the Rusumo border.
The government placed measures in order to curb the spread of this pandemic in other areas include the total lockdown enforced in Rusizi’s busy city Kamembe and few of its surroundings.
The motorcycles were recovered from suspected thieves in Ngoma and Gisagara districts.
One of the motorcycles; plate number RB 003X was recovered Thursday from the suspected thief identified as Alexis Tuyishimire, 20, in Ngoma, Mutenderi Sector.
The victim, Olivier Nsangiyumva had given the motorcycle to Tuyishimire to fix a mechanical fault. Tuyishimire was a mechanic in the neighbouring Kazo Sector.
Chief Inspector of Police (CIP) Hamdun Twizeyimana, the police spokesperson for the Eastern region, said that Tuyishimire cut off the communication after he was given the motorcycle to fix it.
“After fixing the motorcycle, he didn’t give it back to the owner, cut off the communications and he was nowhere to be seen. He told people at home that he was traveling to Kigali.
It later came to light that Tuyishimire had secured a buyer in Kigali but he was intercepted in Mutenderi with the motorcycle riding to Kigali,” CIP Twizeyimana said.
He added: “Tuyishimire was intercepted by residents but he abandoned the motorcycle and attempted to escape. Fortunately, Police and residents worked together to locate and arrest him few moments later.”
He thanked the residents for the community policing gesture to recover the motorcycle and to arrest the suspect.
Meanwhile, the second motorcycle TVS RD 048L was recovered from Eric Habinshuti, 34, on Saturday in Mamba, Gisagara District collaboration with local leaders.
Habinshuti was at the time selling it. The would-be buyer Vincent, who is suspected to be dealing in stolen items, fled and the search for him is still underway.
Six of those arrested were found in a betting house in Nyabugogo, white the other is a taxi-moto operator, identified as Claude Tuyishime, who was using water as alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
Those found in the betting house include an employee, Fabrice Ndayishimiye, who was facilitating customers in the lottery.
Rwanda National Police spokesperson, Commissioner of Police (CP) John Bosco Kabera warned against behaviours and actions that expose people to the risk of getting infected with COVID-19 and hampering the government efforts against the pandemic.
“It is the first time that we have arrested people in betting services, but our wish is that no one should be arrested because the directives are clear and should be respected,” said CP Kabera.
He added: “Commercial motorcyclists were compliant on the first day but the following days, some of them started to violate the guidelines and a number of them have been arrested in these violations.”
Tuyishime had poured water in a hand sanitizer container to make it look like alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
“We have stood up against risky and prohibited behaviors by motorcyclists. We are aware some of them share their fabrics with their passengers while others have no sanitizers or use water poured in sanitizer containers. Both the motorcyclist and passenger will be arrested if found in such serious violations,” CP Kabera said.
He observed that taxi-moto operators were enlightened enough on the directives and what is required of them to be safe against the virus and to protect their clients.
Among the guidelines issued by Rwanda Utility Regulatory Authority (RURA), taxi-moto operators and passengers must to carry hand sanitizers.
Motorcyclists are required to sanitize the helmets and ensure passengers sanitize their hands before boarding.
Both the motorcyclists as well as passengers have to wear their face masks and taxi-motor operators have to obey one-meter distance while in parking. Motorcyclists are also required to use cashless payment of fares.
The lead fuel marketers in Rwanda have donated 5,000 liters to be distributed to thousands of motorists across the country.
The Vivo Energy Rwanda Managing Director, Sarah Doukouré, said the idea was hatched after realizing that motorists were among the worst affected by COVID-19 prevention measures, part of which included suspending taxi-motor activities.
She explained that the donation is part of a contribution to recovery efforts, giving relief to people whose health and livelihoods are continuously affected by the novel coronavirus.
“Although all of us were affected in one way or another, there is a special group among us who were severely impacted by the lockdown- the taxi-moto operators. Their only source of income was put on hold yet they have families to feed,” she said.
“As we adjust to the normal situation, they need a bit of hoist to be able to get back on the road. In this regard, Vivo Energy Rwanda pledges 5,000 litres of fuel to be donated to commercial motorcyclists across the country,” added Doukoure.
Doukouré says the fuel will be provided to the most impacted motorcyclists, with the help of the Rwanda Motorcycle Cooperative, Ferwacotamo.
One of Engen customers and a motorist, Ndatimana Aimable, praised the initiative, saying it will go a long way in giving a big push to motorists that had difficulties getting fuel as they resume work after a long lull.
Ndatimana shares this sentiment with his colleague Harerimana
“Staying at home had a very big toll on our incomes and life has been full of daily survival struggles. The Engen kind gesture has come in handy,” appreciated.
“We’re going to start work but we were just starting with nothing. All our small savings had got exhausted. Thank you Engen for helping us,” Ferwacotamo member, Mayor Ngarambe said.
In addition to the fuel, Engen Rwanda has also provided masks to the motorists as a way of further ushering them back into business.
For those wishing to donate to this campaign, they can do so via Twitter using #FuelMyMoto where they can agree to donate fuel or money and even pay for it using MTN Mobile Money by typing * 182 * 8 * 1 * 222222 * money #.
The Director-General of Rwanda Biomedical Centre, Dr. Sabin Nsanzimana, told IGIHE that the man infected with Coronavirus was a driver from outside Rwanda.
Normally people crossing the border are examined when they are about to enter the country and then put in quarantine but when it is found that someone has met or stood in a place, these measurements are taken and the place he passed through is disinfected.
In Rwanda, 431 people have been diagnosed with Coronavirus, while two have died and 283 have recovered from the virus. Of all the infections, the largest number are males as they account for 81.44% of the total number of 351 people.
These include those who gathered for prayers as well as driving and language school teachers and their students, who were found in related lessons.
At least 14 people were praying; 11 of them found in the bush in Nyanza, Kicukiro district while three others in a prayer-room in Nyamirambo district; the other 15 including teachers and students, were in a room learning languages and traffic rules and regulations.
Also arrested is Joselyne Mbabazi, the owner of the driving and language school located in CHIC building in the city center.
These are among the prohibited activities in this period as per the government directives on curbing the spread of novel Coronavirus pandemic.
The violators were paraded to the media this Friday afternoon, at Remera metropolitan.
Joselyne Mbabazi, the owner of the school argued that she misinterpreted the directives.
“I thought the directives bind schools that only fall under the Ministry of Education,” Mbabazi said.
“Now, I understand that I breached the directives. I regret the risky and dangerous decision to reopen the school with students from different parts of Kigali. One infected case could have easily contaminated others,” she added.
Rwanda National Police (RNP) spokesperson, CP John Bosco Kabera advised against such prohibited and risky actions instead of being forced.
“There are some people, who are still trying to find ways to breach the safety guidelines. We advise them to stop because they will be arrested in one way or another,” CP Kabera said.
“If the directives highlight schools, you do not have to classify your school as private for the sake of violation. You do not have to put your life at risk. You can pray and learn from your home. Directives are clear, if you do not understand them, seek clarifications from concerned organs instead of claiming that you misinterpreted them.” He added
The spokesperson thanked members of the public, who reported the unlawful actions and called for maximum compliance.
He warned that “whoever breaches the directives will be arrested.”
“Had a very good call with my friend PM @narendramodi, we discussed our historically good relationship and the support India continues to offer us,” President Kagame posted on Twitter
The President said he thanked Modi for the medical supplies and equipment India donated to Rwanda in this fight against Covid-19.
The India Premier responded with a tweet thanking President Kagame for the leadership shown in the fight against the pandemic.
“India is honoured to support your efforts, not only for fighting the pandemic but also for advancing Rwanda’s impressive development story,” PM Modi said
“Rwanda is, and will remain, an important pillar of India’s relationship with Africa.” He added
Like India, China, Qatar and Germany have also voiced their support to Rwanda’s fight against the novel coronavirus pandemic.
The Indian Association Rwanda (INAR) on April 8 donated medical supplies worth two million Rwandan francs to the local authorities to help with testing and treating Covid-19 patients.
Modi made a two-day state visit in Rwanda in July 2018, becoming the first Indian head of government to set foot in Rwanda and during the visit, he announced the setting up of an Indian high commission in Kigali, which has since been established.
The positive cases announced came out of 1,558 tests conducted countrywide, mainly in the two border towns of Rusumo, bordering Tanzania and Rusizi which is on the border with the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
The Ministry of Health said that the new cases relate to the Rusizi and Rusomo clusters, they have been isolated and contacts traced.
The total number of cases in the country is now 420 while two new recoveries were registered, bringing total recoveries to 282 while active cases are now 136.
With Rusizi and Rubavu districts still in isolation for at least two weeks as the country tries to contain the possible spread of COVID-19 in the community; the government said mass testing will continue as the country looks to slowly return to normal though borders remain closed.
The Ministry of Health said that the new cases relate to the Rusizi and Rusomo clusters, they have been isolated and contacts traced.
The Mayor of Gisagara District, Rutaburingoga Jérome, told IGIHE that all the remaining 35,669 households will have electricity by 2024.
He said great strides have been made in delivering electricity to the people.
“In 1994 we were at 0%; in 2010 we had only 1107 households with 3% electricity; we had reached 15% in 2016, and now we have reached 52 532 households which is60%. Our goal is that by 2024 we will have 100% of every household with electricity,” he said.
Gisagara District has 88,201 households in 13 sectors consisting of 59 cells and 514 villages.
The number of households receiving On-grid electricity is 41,318 which is 47% and the Off-grid is 11214 which is 13%.
Only Kiri and Munini cells in Kansi Sector go without electricity but, Rutaburingoga says, will also be partly connected before the end of 2020.
The accident took place in Rusongati Village in Rusesa Cell in Kanama Sector on June 4, 2020, at around 5:40 p.m.
The Executive Secretary of the Kanama Sector, Mugisha Honoré, confirmed the information adding that the victim was rushed to Gisenyi Hospital for treatment.
The place where the grenade exploded it is where the major infiltration battles between 1996 and 2000 took place.
Officials have urged residents to be vigilant about any unfamiliar metallic products they come across and caution children against playing with such objects.
