Well, it seems that schools might not reopen in September as had been planned after all. Even though the number of those who have recovered is slightly higher than active cases, going by the current trend, the number of infections could reach 2,000 today. The number may seem modest compared to some countries, but the danger of spiking even higher is always a possibility, which calls for even more vigilance as we are not yet out of the woods. The schools closure has been very difficult for many people, especially private schools’ employees who have no other sources of income. The same suffering is being felt by suppliers of perishable goods whose main market were schools. It is a painful sacrifice that many have to endure but it is the only option in reducing the possibilities of the infections spreading. We are indeed living in difficult times. For the second time this year, Muslims will be celebrating another of their holy festivals under the restrictive wrath of the coronavirus. As of yesterday, only one mosque in Kigali met all conditions of reopening, therefore, many Muslim faithful will have a low key Eid al-Adha. In fact, the coronavirus will see fewer animals being slaughtered during the “Festival of the Sacrifice” because the virus has invaded many pockets. It is estimated that only half of the usual numbers of animals will be slaughtered as required during the festival that honours Ibrahim’s willingness to sacrifice his son. So, for Muslims not being able to enter their mosques or getting an animal to slaughter should be regarded as another form of sacrifice, a necessary one.
