This archive report was first published on 10 July 2020.
How Rwanda Got It Right on Coronavirus ¶
As the world grapples with the Covid-19 pandemic, Rwanda has emerged as a model for effective handling of the virus in the region. With only three deaths recorded, the country has successfully reopened its economy while keeping the rate of community infections low.
According to the European Union Council, Rwanda has earned praise for its meticulous Covid-19 testing and contact tracing. The country has confirmed 1,175 Covid-19 cases from over 150,000 tests, compared to Kenya's 8,528 cases from 195,508 tests done over a similar period.
So, what is Rwanda's secret to success? The country's systematic containment measures, which involved strict enforcement of lockdown rules on neighborhoods with suspected Covid-19 cases, have worked effectively in suppressing community infections.
Unlike Kenya, where policing and enforcement were clouded in corruption, allowing for transmissions, Rwanda's civil obedience ensured that the measure succeeded. Some areas, like Rubavu, were able to have their lockdown lifted after they were found to have no Covid-19 cases.
Dr. Sabin Nsanzimana, the director of Rwanda Biomedical Centre, attributed the success to the country's meticulous contact tracing and testing. 'We conducted several surveys in Rubavu after it had been placed under lockdown and we did not find any more community transmissions,' he said.
Rwanda has also scaled up its testing, doing an average of 4,000 tests daily, which gives it a clear picture of the mapping it requires in terms of interventions. The country has also implemented a random testing scheme on the streets of the capital Kigali, with further drive-through testing at the national stadium.
The Rwanda Biomedical Centre says that the Covid-19 street survey testing will be targeting 5,000 people daily. It will target all entry points of Kigali and neighborhoods as the country ramps up the drive.
Unlike its East African counterparts, the country has also opted for an algorithm-driven pool testing, which is way cheaper and offers quick results. This means reduced screening costs for the Kigali administration, while allowing it to scale up its daily virus testing.
Kigali's meticulous contact tracing and subsequent quarantine is also being lauded as an effective intervention tool in trying to limit community spread. The employment of technology and phone tools in its contact tracing is also working for the country.
