Rwanda’s coronavirus positivity rate drops further

Rwanda has recorded remarkable gains in the fight against the spread of Coronavirus, with the countrywide positivity rate declining significantly, according to data from Rwanda Biomedical Centre (RBC).

By mid-September, the country had managed to contain the positivity rate at 10 percent and below across all districts.

Keeping the positivity rate at bay has been possible thanks to a raft of preventive measures in addition to the sustained vaccination drive.

In August, four districts had a positivity rate that exceeded 10 percent, but the rate eased in the following month.

Currently, only five districts, including Gicumbi, Karongi, Kirehe, Ngoma, and Nyagatare, have a positivity rate of between 5 percent and 9.9 percent, and a cabinet meeting of September 21, imposed tighter measures for the districts to contain the contamination.

The transmission rate in Kigali, which has had the highest number of vaccinations, is 0.4 percent down from 5 percent.

Dr. Sabin Nsanzimana, the Director-General of RBC, said the impact of the vaccination drive has been significant.

“There are many public health factors, but mainly the effect of vaccine mass roll out happening now in Rwanda, especially in Kigali,” he told The New Times.

At least 99 percent of the population aged 18 years and above in Kigali has received the first vaccine for Covid-19 while 78 percent are fully vaccinated.

Nsanzimana said that the government was exploring more ways to secure more vaccines and administer them quickly.

“We project around four million vaccines to be arriving by the end of this year. We are monitoring the epidemic closely and any change is a basis for further actions. I hope that with more vaccines coming and people observing preventive measures we shall resume many activities safely,” he said.

The World Health Organisation has commended Rwanda’s efforts towards vaccination after the country reached the September global target of fully vaccinating 10 percent of its population against Covid-19.

At least 21 percent of the 7.8 million people target population in Rwanda had been fully vaccinated as of September 27, according to RBC.