According to the Ministry of Health, Rwanda recorded two new deaths this week, bringing the total number of Rwandans who have died to 10. The last couple of weeks have also seen the country record triple-digit infections, with some days north of 100. To other countries, this number may be normal, but to Rwanda, the increasing trends are totally unacceptable. The new wave of infection is a clear sign that many people have relaxed their vigilance and are ignoring prevention rules such as social distancing and wearing masks as recommended by the health professionals. The desire to resume our pre-coronavirus lives is what we all wish for, however, this will only be possible if we maintain the caution we had prior to the lifting of the lockdowns. The two new deaths and the spike in infections are a reminder that Rwanda is probably not yet at the peak of the pandemic and if we are not careful, the situation will only get worse and we risk going back to a total lockdown, adversely affecting our lives and incomes. The fate of the coronavirus is in our hands. We must adjust our behavior or else the virus will continue to circulate and negatively impact our livelihoods. Rwanda had succeeded in stopping the virus, leading to the lifting of the lockdowns. It would be a shame if the sacrifices made during the lockdown months were for nothing.
