COVID-19 pandemic in Rwanda

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

COVID-19 pandemic in Rwanda
DiseaseCOVID-19
Virus strainSARS-CoV-2
LocationRwanda
First outbreakWuhan, China
Index caseKigali
Arrival date14 March 2020
(4 years and 4 days)
Confirmed cases133,208[1] (updated 18 March 2024)
Recovered131,112 (17 November 2022) [2]
Deaths
1,468[1] (updated 18 March 2024)
Fatality rate1.33%
Vaccinations11,425,742 total vaccinations

7,011,427 first doses 4,381,843 second doses

32,472 booster shots

The COVID-19 pandemic in Rwanda was a part of the ongoing worldwide pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). The virus was confirmed to have reached Rwanda in March 2020. Rwanda's response to the pandemic has received international praise for its effectiveness. Despite limited resources, the country's well organised healthcare system, rapid deployment of testing procedures and high public trust in medical authorities have led to a successful public health response.[3][4][5][6] As of 15 December 2021, there were 100,763 total confirmed cases, 1,344 confirmed deaths, 7 million first vaccine shots, and 1 critical case.

A hand sanitization station in Rwanda.
Students in Rwanda wearing face masks and sanitizing before entering classrooms to aid prevention of COVID-19

Background

On 12 January 2020, the World Health Organization (WHO) confirmed that a novel coronavirus was the cause of a respiratory illness in a cluster of people in Wuhan City, Hubei Province, China, which was reported to the WHO on 31 December 2019.[7][8]

The case fatality ratio for COVID-19 has been much lower than SARS of 2003,[9][10] but the transmission has been significantly greater, with a significant total death toll.[11][9] Model-based simulations for Rwanda indicate that the 95% confidence interval for the time-varying reproduction number R t exceeded 1.0 in November and December 2020.[12]

Timeline

March 2020

  • The first case of COVID-19 in Rwanda was confirmed on 14 March 2020.[13] Four other people were tested after the first case tested positive, bringing the number of cases to five.[14]
  • By 16 March, Rwanda confirmed two more cases in Kigali, bringing the total number of cases in the country to seven.[15] In an attempt to stop the spread of coronavirus, the Rwandan Ministry of Health announced on 18 March, via Twitter, that all international commercial passenger flights would be suspended for 30 days, with effect from 20 March.[16] Less than a day later, on 21 March, officials announced a two-week lockdown. Both public and private employees are to work from home, under strict measures. All borders are also to be closed, cargo and Rwandan nationals being exempt, with a mandatory 14-day quarantine.[17][18]
  • On 28 March, the Ministry of Health recorded six new COVID-19 cases, taking the total of those diagnosed with the virus to 60.[19]
  • By the end of March there were 75 confirmed cases, no deaths and no recoveries.[20]
Sanitizing a passenger at a bus park to support prevention of COVID-19 in Rwanda.

April to June 2020

  • On 9 April, three new cases of coronavirus were identified, out of 720 samples examined in the previous 24 hours. This brought the total number of confirmed cases to 113 people (of which seven had recovered).[21]
  • In April there were 168 new cases, bringing the total number of cases to 243. 104 patients recovered, leaving 139 active cases at the end of the month.[22]
  • On 31 May, the first death was confirmed.[23] The number of confirmed cases stood at 370 (up by 127 from the end of April). The number of recovered patients increased by 152 to 256, leaving 113 active cases.[24]
  • A cluster of cases in the Rusizi District of western Rwanda, on the border of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, caused the number of confirmed cases to spike. This, together with a smaller cluster in the Rusumo on the eastern border with Tanzania, sent the number of confirmed cases from 370 at the end of May, to 572 by 14 June.[25]
  • During June there were 655 new cases, raising the total number of cases to 1025. The death toll doubled to 2. The number of recovered patients increased by 191 to 447, leaving 576 active cases at the end of the month.[26]

July to September 2020

  • Rwanda was the only sub-Saharan state listed whose citizens and residents are able to travel to the European Union from July.[27]
  • There were 997 new cases in July, raising the total number of confirmed cases to 2022. The death toll more than doubled to 5. The number of recovered patients increased by 659 to 1106, leaving 911 active cases at the end of the month (an increase by 58% from the end of June).[28]
  • In August, the number of confirmed cases more than doubled to 4063 with 1941 new cases. The death toll more than tripled to 16. At the end of the month there were 2034 active cases, more than twice as many as the end of July.[29]
  • There were 773 new cases in September, bringing the total number of confirmed cases to 4836. The death toll rose to 29. The number of recovered patients increased to 3125, leaving 1682 active cases at the end of the month.[30]

October to December 2020

  • There were 301 new cases in October, bringing the total number of confirmed cases to 5137. The death toll rose to 35. The number of recovered patients increased to 4879, leaving 223 active cases at the end of the month.[31]
  • There were 797 new cases in November, bringing the total number of confirmed cases to 5934. The death toll rose to 49. The number of recovered patients increased to 5516, leaving 369 active cases at the end of the month.[32]
  • There were 2449 new cases in December, raising the total number of confirmed cases to 8383. The death toll rose to 92. The number of recovered patients increased to 6542, leaving 1749 active cases at the end of the month.[33]

January to March 2021

  • There were 6921 new cases in January, taking the total number of confirmed cases to 15304. The death toll more than doubled to 196. The number of recovered patients increased to 10087, leaving 5021 active cases at the end of the month.[34]
  • With the spike in COVID-19 infections, the decision was made on 15 January to postpone the 2021 Tour du Rwanda, the largest and most popular professional road cycling race in the country, from the end of February to the beginning of May.[35]
  • There were 3546 new cases in February, taking the total number of confirmed cases to 18850. The death toll rose to 261. The number of recovered patients increased to 17313, leaving 1276 active cases at the end of the month.[36]
  • There were 2933 new cases in March, taking the total number of confirmed cases to 21783. The death toll rose to 307. The number of recovered patients increased to 20182, leaving 1294 active cases at the end of the month. 348,926 persons were vaccinated in March.[38]

April to June 2021

  • There were 3333 new cases in April, taking the total number of confirmed cases to 25116. The death toll rose to 335. The number of recovered patients increased to 23234, leaving 1547 active cases at the end of the month. 945 persons were vaccinated in April, bringing the total number to 349,871.[39]
  • There were 1907 new cases in May, taking the total number of confirmed cases to 27023. The death toll rose to 357. The number of recovered patients increased to 25850, leaving 816 active cases at the end of the month. 529 persons were vaccinated in May, bringing the total number to 350,400.[42]
  • There were 12024 new cases in June, raising the total number of confirmed cases to 39047. The death toll rose to 438. The number of recovered patients increased to 27272, leaving 11337 active cases at the end of the month. The number of vaccinations increased to 391,805.[43]

July to September 2021

  • There were 31651 new cases in July, taking the total number of confirmed cases to 70698. The death toll rose to 808. The number of fully vaccinated persons increased to 455,673.[44]
  • There were 16929 new cases in August, taking the total number of confirmed cases to 87627. The death toll rose to 1089. The number of fully vaccinated persons increased to 660,402.[45]
  • There were 9890 new cases in September, taking the total number of confirmed cases to 97517. The death toll rose to 1273.[46]

October to December 2021

  • There were 2181 new cases in October, bringing the total number of confirmed cases to 99698. The death toll rose to 1331. The number of recovered patients increased to 97642, leaving 725 active cases at the end of the month.[47]
  • There were 651 new cases in November, bringing the total number of confirmed cases to 100349. The death toll rose to 1342. The number of fully vaccinated persons increased to 3,452,598.[48]
  • There were 11437 new cases in December, bringing the total number of confirmed cases to 111786. The death toll rose to 1350. The number of fully vaccinated persons increased to 5,502,525.[50] Modelling by WHO's Regional Office for Africa suggests that due to under-reporting, the true cumulative number of infections by the end of 2021 was around 5.9 million while the true number of COVID-19 deaths was around 1866.[51]

January to March 2022

  • There were 17105 new cases in January, bringing the total number of confirmed cases to 128891. The death toll rose to 1440. The number of fully vaccinated persons increased to 7,092,862.[52]
  • There were 611 new cases in February, bringing the total number of confirmed cases to 129502. The death toll rose to 1457. The number of fully vaccinated persons increased to 7,821,022.[53]
  • There were 220 new cases in March, bringing the total number of confirmed cases to 129722. The death toll rose to 1459. The number of fully vaccinated persons increased to 8,146,164.

April to June 2022

  • There were 112 new cases in April, bringing the total number of confirmed cases to 129834. The death toll remained unchanged. The number of recovered patients increased to 128347, leaving 28 active cases at the end of the month. The number of fully vaccinated persons increased to 8,380,667.[54]
  • There were 218 new cases in May, bringing the total number of confirmed cases to 130052. The death toll remained unchanged. The number of recovered patients increased to 128529, leaving 64 active cases at the end of the month. The number of fully vaccinated persons increased to 8,510,067.[55]
  • There were 969 new cases in June, bringing the total number of confirmed cases to 131021. The death toll rose to 1460. The number of fully vaccinated persons increased to 8,657,341.

July to September 2022

  • There were 1246 new cases in July, bringing the total number of confirmed cases to 132267. The death toll rose to 1466. The number of recovered patients increased to 130403, leaving 398 active cases at the end of the month.[56]
  • There were 172 new cases in August, bringing the total number of confirmed cases to 132439. The death toll remained unchanged.
  • There were 65 new cases in September, bringing the total number of confirmed cases to 132504. The death toll remained unchanged. The number of recovered patients increased to 131027, leaving 11 active cases at the end of the month.[57]

October to December 2022

  • There were 80 new cases in October, bringing the total number of confirmed cases to 132584. The death toll rose to 1467. The number of fully vaccinated persons increased to 8,966,693.[58]
  • There were 178 new cases in November, bringing the total number of confirmed cases to 132762. The death toll remained unchanged. The number of recovered patients increased to 131112, leaving 183 active cases at the end of the month. The number of fully vaccinated persons increased to 9,274,948.[59]
  • There were 158 new cases in December, bringing the total number of confirmed cases to 132920. The death toll rose to 1468.[60]

January to December 2023

  • There were 170 new cases in January, bringing the total number of confirmed cases to 133090. The death toll remained unchanged.
  • There were 104 new cases in February, bringing the total number of confirmed cases to 133194. The death toll remained unchanged. The number of recovered patients increased to 131647, leaving 79 active cases at the end of the month.[61]
  • There were five new cases in March-April, bringing the total number of confirmed cases to 133199. The death toll remained unchanged.[62]

Statistics

Confirmed new cases per day

Confirmed deaths per day

Government reaction

Sabin Nsanzimana has said that all COVID-positive patients were taken to a treatment centre for monitoring.[6]

In addition to the lockdown measures taken in March (see above), Rwanda National Police on 12 April announced the usage of drones to deliver messages to local communities on how to combat the coronavirus.[63]

In January 2021 additional restrictions were introduced in Kigali.[64]

Impact

Education

On 14 March 2020, the Government of Rwanda closed all schools in the country due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Schools remained closed until November 2020, when a phased reopening began with students returning to the grade they were in before the closures (thereby effectively repeating the year). During the closures various steps were implemented by the Rwanda Education Board to enable remote learning. These included national TV and radio broadcasts, the launch of a dedicated YouTube Channel and improved online resources for teachers. Despite these efforts there is evidence that many pupils experienced little or no education during the closure period. Research has indicated that fewer than half of teachers may have been able to support students' remote learning and that students from poor and rural families may have benefited the least from the distance learning measures. Concerns were also raised by head teachers and teachers about weak learners, over-aged students, girls and poor students potentially dropping out of education.[65]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b Ritchie, Hannah; Mathieu, Edouard; Rodés-Guirao, Lucas; Appel, Cameron; Giattino, Charlie; Ortiz-Ospina, Esteban; Hasell, Joe; Macdonald, Bobbie; Beltekian, Diana; Dattani, Saloni; Roser, Max (2020–2022). "Coronavirus Pandemic (COVID-19)". Our World in Data. Retrieved 18 March 2024.
  2. ^ "Rwanda COVID - Coronavirus Statistics - Worldometer".
  3. ^ "Why Rwanda Is Doing Better Than Ohio When It Comes To Controlling COVID-19". NPR.org. Retrieved 29 May 2021.
  4. ^ Cahan, Eli M. (11 December 2020). "Rwanda's secret weapon against covid-19: trust". BMJ. 371: m4720. doi:10.1136/bmj.m4720. ISSN 1756-1833. PMID 33310784.
  5. ^ Musanabaganwa, Clarisse; Cubaka, Vincent; Mpabuka, Etienne; Semakula, Muhammed; Nahayo, Ernest; Hedt-Gauthier, Bethany L.; Ng, Kamela C. S.; Murray, Megan B.; Kateera, Fredrick; Mutesa, Leon; Nsanzimana, Sabin (1 February 2021). "One hundred thirty-three observed COVID-19 deaths in 10 months: unpacking lower than predicted mortality in Rwanda". BMJ Global Health. 6 (2): e004547. doi:10.1136/bmjgh-2020-004547. ISSN 2059-7908. PMC 7907833. PMID 33627363.
  6. ^ a b "Why has one of the world's poorest nations successfully contained COVID, when wealthy nations have failed?". ABC News. 11 April 2021. Retrieved 29 May 2021.
  7. ^ Elsevier. "Novel Coronavirus Information Center". Elsevier Connect. Archived from the original on 30 January 2020. Retrieved 15 March 2020.
  8. ^ Reynolds, Matt (4 March 2020). "What is coronavirus and how close is it to becoming a pandemic?". Wired UK. ISSN 1357-0978. Archived from the original on 5 March 2020. Retrieved 5 March 2020.
  9. ^ a b "Crunching the numbers for coronavirus". Imperial News. 13 March 2020. Archived from the original on 19 March 2020. Retrieved 15 March 2020.
  10. ^ "High consequence infectious diseases (HCID); Guidance and information about high consequence infectious diseases and their management in England". GOV.UK. Archived from the original on 3 March 2020. Retrieved 17 March 2020.
  11. ^ "World Federation Of Societies of Anaesthesiologists – Coronavirus". www.wfsahq.org. Archived from the original on 12 March 2020. Retrieved 15 March 2020.
  12. ^ Future scenarios of the healthcare burden of COVID-19 in low- or middle-income countries, MRC Centre for Global Infectious Disease Analysis at Imperial College London.
  13. ^ "Rwanda confirms first case of coronavirus - health ministry". Reuters. 14 March 2020. Archived from the original on 14 March 2020. Retrieved 14 March 2020.
  14. ^ "Abanduye coronavirus mu Rwanda babaye batanu". BBC News Gahuza (in Kinyarwanda). 16 March 2020. Retrieved 18 March 2020.
  15. ^ "Rwanda confirms seventh coronavirus case". The East African. Retrieved 18 March 2020.
  16. ^ Mbabazi, Eunniah (19 March 2020). "Rwanda Suspends All International Flights". kenyanwallstreet.com. Retrieved 13 April 2020.
  17. ^ "Rwanda in lockdown to contain coronavirus". www.aa.com.tr. Retrieved 23 March 2020.
  18. ^ "Rwanda steps up efforts to beat coronavirus". www.aa.com.tr. Retrieved 23 March 2020.
  19. ^ Kuteesa, Hudson (28 March 2020). "Rwanda COVID-19 cases increase to 60; all patients recovering well". The New Times. Retrieved 29 March 2020.
  20. ^ "Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) situation 72" (PDF). World Health Organization. 1 April 2020. p. 8. Retrieved 18 July 2020.
  21. ^ "Coronavirus - Rwanda : Mise à jour sur le coronavirus COVID-19 - 9 avril 2020". Alwihda Info - Actualités TCHAD, Afrique, International (in French). Retrieved 12 April 2020.
  22. ^ "Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) situation report 102" (PDF). World Health Organization. 1 May 2020. p. 5. Retrieved 18 July 2020.
  23. ^ Uwiringiyimana, Clement; Miriri, Duncan; Donovan, Kirsten (31 May 2020). "Rwanda reports its first death from the new coronavirus". Reuters. Retrieved 31 May 2020.
  24. ^ "Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) situation report 133" (PDF). World Health Organization. 1 June 2020. Retrieved 18 July 2020.
  25. ^ "Cluster of Covid-19 cases in western Rwanda continue to cause new infections". www.iol.co.za. Retrieved 15 June 2020.
  26. ^ "Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) situation report 163" (PDF). World Health Organization. 1 July 2020. p. 7. Retrieved 18 July 2020.
  27. ^ "Rwanda's Covid-19 response: A great indicator of a strong state". The New Times - Rwanda. 6 July 2020. Retrieved 9 July 2020.
  28. ^ "Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) situation report 194" (PDF). World Health Organization. 1 August 2020. p. 5. Retrieved 2 August 2020.
  29. ^ "Outbreak brief 33: COVID-19 pandemic – 1 September 2020". Africa CDC. 1 September 2020. p. 3. Retrieved 16 September 2020.
  30. ^ "COVID-19 situation update for the WHO African region. External situation report 31" (PDF). World Health Organization. 30 September 2020. p. 4. Retrieved 4 October 2020.
  31. ^ "COVID-19 weekly epidemiological update". World Health Organization. 3 November 2020. p. 14. Retrieved 9 November 2020.
  32. ^ Mutanganshuro, Lavie (30 November 2020). "Covid-19: Rwanda registers another fatality". The New Times. Retrieved 2 December 2020.
  33. ^ Diallo, Oumy (1 January 2021). "Coronavirus en Afrique : quels sont les pays impactés ?" (in French). Retrieved 4 January 2021.
  34. ^ "Update COVID-19 31 January 2021". World Health Organization. 1 February 2021. Retrieved 1 February 2021.
  35. ^ Nsabimana, Eddie (15 January 2021). "Covid-19: Tour du Rwanda 2021 postponed to May". The New Times. Retrieved 23 April 2021.
  36. ^ "Outbreak brief 59: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic". Africa CDC. 2 March 2021. p. 3. Retrieved 4 March 2021.
  37. ^ "First Pfizer COVID-19 vaccines to Africa under COVAX go to Rwanda". Reuters. 3 March 2021. Retrieved 5 March 2021.
  38. ^ "Coronavirus - Rwanda: COVID-19 update (31 March 2021)". APO Group. 1 April 2021. Retrieved 1 April 2021.
  39. ^ "Coronavirus - Rwanda: COVID-19 update (30 April 2021)". APO Group. 1 May 2021. Retrieved 4 May 2021.
  40. ^ "Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM)". The Commonwealth. Archived from the original on 5 July 2008. Retrieved 20 May 2021.
  41. ^ "Kigali Chogm 2020 summit called off". Daily Monitor. 19 July 2020. Retrieved 20 May 2021.
  42. ^ "Coronavirus - Rwanda: COVID-19 update (1 June 2021)". APO Group. 1 June 2021. Retrieved 6 June 2021.
  43. ^ "Update on COVID-19 30 June 2021". Rwanda Biomedical Centre. 30 June 2021. Retrieved 8 July 2021.
  44. ^ "Update on COVID-19 31 July 2021". Rwanda Biomedical Centre. 31 July 2021. Retrieved 2 August 2021.
  45. ^ "Update on COVID-19 31 August 2021". Rwanda Biomedical Centre. 31 August 2021. Retrieved 4 September 2021.
  46. ^ "Data on the development of the COVID-19 (corona) in throughout Rwanda each day on September 30, 2021". AndraFarm. 30 September 2021. Retrieved 10 October 2021.
  47. ^ "Weekly bulletin on outbreaks and other emergencies" (PDF). World Health Organization. 31 October 2021. p. 6. Retrieved 4 November 2021.
  48. ^ "Update on COVID-19 30 November 2021". Rwanda Biomedical Centre. 30 November 2021. Retrieved 2 December 2021.
  49. ^ "Rwanda detects six Omicron cases, escalates Covid curbs". The Guardian Nigeria. 14 December 2021. Retrieved 19 December 2021.
  50. ^ "Update on COVID-19 31 December 2021". Rwanda Biomedical Centre. 31 December 2021. Retrieved 4 January 2022.
  51. ^ Cabore, Joseph Waogodo; Karamagi, Humphrey Cyprian; Kipruto, Hillary Kipchumba; Mungatu, Joseph Kyalo; Asamani, James Avoka; Droti, Benson; Titi-ofei, Regina; Seydi, Aminata Binetou Wahebine; Kidane, Solyana Ngusbrhan; Balde, Thierno; Gueye, Abdou Salam; Makubalo, Lindiwe; Moeti, Matshidiso R (1 June 2022). "COVID-19 in the 47 countries of the WHO African region: a modelling analysis of past trends and future patterns". The Lancet Global Health. 10 (8): e1099–e1114. doi:10.1016/S2214-109X(22)00233-9. PMC 9159735. PMID 35659911. S2CID 249241026. Retrieved 2 June 2022.
  52. ^ "Update on COVID-19 31 January 2022". Rwanda Biomedical Centre. 31 January 2022. Retrieved 4 February 2022.
  53. ^ "Update on COVID-19 28 February 2022". Rwanda Biomedical Centre. 28 February 2022. Retrieved 5 March 2022.
  54. ^ "Weekly bulletin on outbreaks and other emergencies" (PDF). World Health Organization. 1 May 2022. p. 5. Retrieved 9 May 2022.
  55. ^ "Weekly bulletin on outbreaks and other emergencies" (PDF). World Health Organization. 29 May 2022. p. 15. Retrieved 6 June 2022.
  56. ^ "Weekly bulletin on outbreaks and other emergencies" (PDF). World Health Organization. 31 July 2022. p. 13. Retrieved 5 August 2022.
  57. ^ "Weekly bulletin on outbreaks and other emergencies" (PDF). World Health Organization. 10 October 2022. p. 17. Retrieved 2 October 2022.
  58. ^ "Update on COVID-19 24–30 October 2022". Rwanda Biomedical Centre. 30 October 2022. Retrieved 9 November 2022.
  59. ^ "Weekly bulletin on outbreaks and other emergencies" (PDF). World Health Organization. 27 November 2022. p. 18. Retrieved 12 December 2022.
  60. ^ "Outbreak brief 155: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic". Africa CDC. 3 January 2023. p. 4. Retrieved 16 January 2023.
  61. ^ "Weekly bulletin on outbreaks and other emergencies" (PDF). World Health Organization. 9 April 2023. p. 17. Retrieved 20 April 2023.
  62. ^ "Outbreak brief 3: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic" (PDF). World Health Organization. 5 May 2023. p. 3. Retrieved 25 May 2023.
  63. ^ Ashimwe, Edwin (12 April 2020). "Rwanda deploys drones to raise Covid-19 awareness in communities". www.newtimes.co.rw. Retrieved 13 April 2020.
  64. ^ @PrimatureRwanda (18 January 2021). "Statement on Cabinet Resolutions of 18/01/2021" (Tweet). Retrieved 23 January 2021 – via Twitter.
  65. ^ "Effects of school closures on secondary school teachers in Rwanda". Laterite. 11 January 2021. Retrieved 20 March 2022.