Rwanda Confirms its first case of Coronavirus – COVID-19

Rwanda on 14th March 2020, through its Ministry of Health, reported the country’s first case of COVID-19. The patient was an Indian citizen, a male who arrived from Mumbai, India on 08 March 2020. However, the patient had no symptoms upon arrival in Rwanda. He reported himself to a health facility on 13 March, where he was immediately tested and the results were positive. He is currently under treatment in stable conditions, isolated from other patients. This is the second case in East Africa after Kenya recorded the first case on Friday.

President Paul Kagame; the president of the Republic of Rwanda on Saturday 14th March 2020 advised Rwanda to remain calm and focus on simple but effective measures that are key to keeping each other and everyone safe. “As the world faces the COVID19 pandemic, our thoughts and prayers are with the victims, families and their loved ones. We wish strength to the health workers on the frontlines and quick recovery to all patients,” President Kagame said.

The President said “As always, we will overcome these difficult times through solidarity and working together. This will require the discipline Rwandans have always shown in confronting challenges and getting good results.” The Head of State thanked the Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO) and his team for their leadership in these trying times.

WHO has provided technical and material support to countries in Africa, including the coordination, surveillance, laboratory capacity and risk communication and community engagement since the COVID-19 outbreak was declared to be a public health emergency of international concern. WHO has provided testing kits to national laboratories as well as training to laboratory technicians. WHO has dispatched personal protective equipment for health workers, as well as thermometers and other essential supplies for screening and handling suspect cases.

While there is still much to learn about COVID-19, people can take actions to prevent the disease through simple, day-to-day measures. These include regular handwashing with soap and water; coughing into a tissue or a bent elbow, being sure to safely dispose of the tissue afterwards; maintaining a social distance of at least one metre, particularly if that person is coughing; avoiding touching the eyes, nose and mouth; and seeking medical attention early if a person develops a fever or cough.

A brief About Rwanda

Rwanda, the land of a thousand hills was ranked among the top Africa safari destinations to travel to in 2020 and among the top 30 globally by a ranking, Travel Lemming which recognizes trending destinations. Travel Lemming is a travel blog founded by Nate Hake, an American who has been travelling the world full-time since 2016. The site’s mission is to help highlight emerging and underappreciated destinations as a way to fight over-tourism. The annual awards were published this week on the site Travel Lemming which promotes emerging destinations around the world as a solution to over-tourism. It is famous for being home to the mountain gorillas that habit Volcanoes National Park Rwanda. Tourists have travelled to visit these mountain gorillas in the wild by booking gorilla trekking safaris in Rwanda during their Africa tours. Rwanda has for long been one of the top bucket lists destinations visited by Africa safari tour travellers. While most people go there for Rwanda gorilla safaris, Rwanda chimpanzee safaris, Rwanda wildlife safari tours, Rwanda birding safaris, hiking safaris in Rwanda, and Rwanda city tours, there are lots of other cultural heritage sites and experiences that people haven’t explored.