This archive report was first published on 9 July 2021.
Published on July 9, 2021, Rwanda has confirmed the presence of the Delta Variant of Covid-19, a development that has raised concerns about the spread of the virus in the country.
According to Dr. Daniel Ngamije, Rwanda's Minister of Health, the current virus spreads faster, is deadlier, and has different symptoms compared to previous variants.
"Our assessment shows that the Delta Variant is present in Rwanda," Dr. Ngamije said in an interview with the national broadcaster. "From discussions with frontline doctors and patients, severity of the disease, new symptoms such as headache, fatigue, and breathing complications, it is obvious that Delta Variant is present," he added.
The minister noted that the Delta Variant is characterized by a faster spread of the virus, with the country reaching a big number of infections in just four weeks, compared to the two months it used to take.
The confirmation of the Delta Variant comes as Rwanda is experiencing a surge in Covid-19 cases, with the country recording 16 deaths on July 7, the highest number since the first Covid-19 case in March 2020.
As of July 7, Rwanda had recorded 45,039 confirmed Covid-19 cases, with a positivity rate of 9.6 percent. The country has also administered Covid-19 vaccines to slightly over four percent of its 12.6 million population.
