The Minister of State in Charge of Primary Healthcare in the Ministry of Health, Dr Col Tharcisse Mpunga has said that the government will conduct Covid-19 tests to aid movement where it is deemed essential.

Mpunga said this in reference to the government’s decision to ban both public and private transport to and from Kigali, as well as moving from one district to another as part of its plan to mitigate the spread of the Covid-19 pandemic.

He said this on Tuesday, January 5 while appearing on the national broadcaster, Rwanda Broadcasting Agency (RBA), alongside the Minister of Trade Soraya Hakuziyaremye and Police Spokesman CP John Bosco Kabera where they shed more light on the latest cabinet resolutions.

Mpunga said that the government is aware of the challenges where, for instance, some students live in one district but study in another, saying that measures will be put in place to ensure that some essential activities are not derailed.

"Reviews are being done on a case by case basis and where necessary, tests will be conducted to ensure that those who need to move can,” he said.

This was part of the government’s response to complaints raised by some people over its failure to notify the masses before imposing the travel bans.

"Some of these decisions have to be made there and then. Even if we were to inform the masses before, there would still be many challenges, but we are listening to everyone and whoever has a valid issue will be given the support that they need,” he said.

Mpunga had earlier told journalists that in the quest for alternative solutions to control the surge in Covid-19 infections and deaths, the government had pondered over imposing another lockdown.

The latest figures show that half of the 105 people that have succumbed to the Covid-19 pandemic passed away in December, which tempted the government to introduce a second lockdown.

Business as usual

Minister Hakuziyaremye reminded that while inter-district movements are restricted, trucks carrying goods are allowed to move.

She touched on the decision to order all businesses to close by 6 pm, saying that this was aimed at protecting both the consumer and supplier of services.

"Covid-19 attacks both a buyer and a seller. Our thinking is that if people close businesses early, then they are able to avoid crowded places like bus parks and they are also able to beat the curfew and make it home by 8 pm, curfew time,” she explained.

She reminded the business community not to take advantage of the new measures to hike prices, pointing out that inspections will continue all over the country.

Covid-19 state in the country

The development came on the same day Rwanda reported four more fatalities, bringing the death tally to 105.

Among the deceased, three were men, including a 43-year-old, 73-year-old, and 82-year-old. The other was a 68-year-old lady. 

Rwanda also registered 172 new infections out of 2,251 samples that were taken in the same period. 

As of Monday, Jan. 4, Rwanda had a total of 1,927 active cases out of 8,848 cases reported since mid-March.