Rwandans can now heave a huge sigh of relief after the government partially lifted the lockdown that has been in effect for the last nearly two months. It has been an uncomfortable period for many; businesses ground to a halt, schools were disrupted as well as movement of people. All those might have caused some psychological distress to some, but they also made people think out of the box. Food delivery services saw a peak in business, homeschooling was tried for the first time and work-from-home became the new normal. But the most important of all, the government proved its capabilities in dealing with a little-known threat that had managed to bring the whole world on its knees. Today there are no new community infections in the country. All new cases are being recorded at border entry points brought in by long-distance truck drivers and their assistants. They are being contained thereby testing them and treating them when necessary. Even though authorities are not quick to sing victory, it is to some extent. Victory for the health workers and the contact-tracing teams that worked tirelessly day and night. It was a vote of confidence in the government’s communication strategy which was able to galvanise the population in record time to keep them safe. The population’s disciplined response should also be mentioned for helping contain the pandemic without which the end results would have been mortal. Now they can again begin to pick their pieces together with the confidence that they have it in them the means to beat COVID-19. However, the COVID-19 cloud has not passed and prevention measures need to be maintained. At least now the government knows where it stands as regards contamination points and is able to contain them.
