Just a few weeks back, the optimists amongst us were already predicting a possible beginning of an end to the Covid-19 pandemic that has rocked Rwanda, just like the entire world, for the better part of the past 18 months.

The country’s daily cases were steadily coming down, while the government continued to lessen the restrictions instituted to keep the virus at bay. Relaxing the restrictions was a necessity to breathe a fresh air into the economy which has been rattled by the pandemic.

Unfortunately, the deliberate effort by government to ease these restrictions was misread by some among us, by letting our guard down in as regards protecting ourselves and those we love against this deadly virus.

This has led to the recent spike and according to statistics from the Ministry of Health, during the past six days alone, a total of 1,123 cases and 12 deaths were recorded. On Sunday alone, the cases were 284 and two deaths.

This is a worrying trajectory compared to where we were just a week ago and, as a citizenry, we have ourselves to blame for this spike that, if no individual responsibility is exercised, will invite more strenuous measures from government, which will in turn hurt us more.

Everywhere you go, the habit of ‘chin-masking’ has cropped like the virus itself; people will simply have their masks strapped below their chins and going about their businesses nonchalantly.

Others who have been lucky enough to get vaccinated feel the threat by the virus are behind them, never mind the unwavering calls by our scientists that being inoculated does not guarantee one not to contract the virus nor does it stop one from being a conduit.

Fortunately, the situation can be salvaged. The cases are still manageable and according to the Minister of Health, we can avoid a third wave of the virus if we all exercise the necessary precaution.

Let heed this advice to avoid the avoidable loss of life as well as inviting restrictions that will further hurt our economy which is just beginning to pick up.