December 16, 2021
1 min read

OMICRON VARIANT: Rwanda on alert

The new measures are intended to contain the spread of the Omicron variant which has been shown to spread rapidly…reports Asian Lite News

Rwanda on Wednesday announced stricter Covid-19 preventive measures, suspending nightclubs and increasing quarantine days for arriving travellers, effective from December 16, following the confirmation of the first six cases of Omicron variant in the country.

“All arriving passengers must be quarantined for three days at a designated hotel at their own cost. A Covid PCR test will be taken upon arrival and an additional test taken on the third day and on the seventh day at own cost from arrival date,” a statement released by the Prime Minister’s office said, following Tuesday’s cabinet meeting.

President Paul Kagame (Twitter image)

The government had reintroduced mandatory 24-hour quarantine for incoming travellers in November following detection of the Omicron variant in South Africa, Xinhua news agency reported.

The government has also suspended nightclubs and live band entertainment in other venues, according to the statement.

It said organised concerts will be approved on a case by case basis.

On Wednesday, the Rwandan Ministry of Health announced that the first six cases of Omicron variant had been confirmed in the country through genomic sequencing of samples collected from travellers and their contacts.

ALSO READ: Rwanda suspends flights to S. Africa over Omicron variant

The ministry said the new measures are intended to contain the spread of the Omicron variant which has been shown to spread rapidly.

As of December 15, Rwanda had recorded an accumulated tally of 100,763 Covid cases with 1,344 deaths.

At least 6.9 million people in the east African country have received the first Covid vaccination jab while 4.2 million are fully vaccinated, according to the Ministry of Health.

Previous Story

Iran demands ‘verifiable guarantees’ for possible nuclear deal

Next Story

UAE to open food park in Kerala

Latest from Africa News

Uganda, South Sudanese leaders hold talks

Museveni, who is among the guarantors of a 2018 peace agreement that ended a five-year civil war, held closed-door discussions with President Salva Kiir Uganda’s President Yoweri Museveni was expected to meet

Africa CDC calls for self-reliance

Data from the African Union’s specialised healthcare agency show that the continent, over the past 24 months, has witnessed an “unprecedented surge in public health emergencies,” rising from 152 disease outbreaks in

HIV soars after deadly war in Tigray

Tigray was once considered a model in the fight against HIV. Years of awareness-raising efforts had brought the region’s HIV prevalence rate to 1.4%, one of the lowest in Ethiopia The Trump

Namibia voices concern over US tariffs

AGOA is a non-reciprocal trade arrangement aimed at supporting development in African countries through preferential access to US markets The Namibian government has expressed concern over newly imposed US tariffs, warning that

Africa CDC calls for self-reliance

Data from the African Union’s specialised healthcare agency show that the continent, over the past 24 months, has witnessed an “unprecedented surge in public health emergencies,” rising from 152 disease outbreaks in
Go toTop

Don't Miss

Nepal Struggles to Stem Corona

As the threat of the new Omicron Covid-19 variant looms

From Asia to Africa, India’s Key Role in Global South’s Growth

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Mauritian counterpart Pravind Jugnauth jointly