15th March 2020

The VSO office has emailed to say that as all schools will be closed from next week, there will be no schools visits, the VSO office will be closed and we can no longer have face to face meetings.

I pop into town by Moto, and am surprised at how quickly people are responding. So many people are wearing face masks and when I go to one of the bigger stores, the security staff have masks and gloves on and are taking everyone’s temperature as they come in.   Moto drivers are driving around, with passengers wearing scarves under helmets that have now had their visors removed. A week or so ago, Moto drivers were told to remove the visors of the passenger helmets, and for passengers to cover their heads with a cloth before using them.  And that was before there were any cases.

Later on I meet up with Katie again,  we go to a cafe that’s midway between where we live. We both walk. Everywhere is quiet and several cafes are closed.  There is a family in the café who keep washing their hands at the basin.  We wonder what they will do with their children come Monday.

There is a video of President Paul Kagame washing his hands and the message that handwashing is the key to preventing the spread of C-19. He challenges other leaders to join in by sharing his video with other leaders including Boris Johnson.

The Rwanda Food and Drugs Company issues a notice stating that all those involved in the production and selling of items must not take advantage of the COVID19 situation by selling substandard products and that they are not to hike prices. Some people had complained on social media that hand sanitizer is hard to find and that stores are putting up prices.

In the evening, another statement from the Ministry of Health informs that four more coronavirus cases have been identified bringing the total to five.