Rwanda has been registering sharp increase of new COVID-19 cases where 4085 people caught the virus in one week.

For the past seven days, the country has recorded highest number of cases since the pandemic emerged. These include 622 new infections on 21st, 861 on 22nd and 964 new cases on 23rd June 2021 while 15 succumbed to COVID-19 in three days.

The Ministry of Health has revealed to IGIHE that 96% of patients are receiving home-based care while the remaining are getting treatment at established COVID-19 treatment centers in Kanyinya and Nyarugenge.

Currently, the country reports 6129 active cases and 12 patients who are critically ill.

Minister Ngamije has attributed the surge in COVID-19 cases and deaths to complacency against instituted containment measures and called for heightened vigilance to fight the pandemic.

“The number of new COVID-19 infections and patients admitted at treatment centers has increased for the past days. Some of reasons for the surge include complacency and disregarding preventive directives,” he revealed.

“We must heighten vigilance and fully adhere to health guidelines before the situations goes beyond control as it happened in other countries,” added Minister Ngamije.

He reminded the public that coronavirus is transmitted through air and spreads easily in congested indoor settings with no proper aeration.

Minister Ngamije urged business people and other employees from different institutions to avoid work in congested places or run activities in outdoor settings to reduce vulnerability to Coronavirus infections.

“Let us commit to work outside where necessary and open windows to let in fresh air particularly at schools, workplace among other places like health facilities, banks, and administrative offices. Moreover, public bus windows should remain open,” he said.

Minister Ngamije highlighted that it is a collective responsibility to contain the spread of COVID-19 to normalize the situation.

Rwanda confirmed the first case on 14th March 2020. Since then, 33 260 people have been tested positive of whom 26 734 recovered, 6 129 are active cases, 12 are critically ill while 397 have succumbed to the virus.

A total of 391,058 people have been vaccinated since Rwanda began countrywide inoculation programme on 5th March 2021.

The country plans to vaccinate at least 60% of the population by June 2022.

The Minister of Health, Dr. Daniel Ngamije has attributed the surge in COVID-19 cases and deaths to complacency against instituted containment measures.