The Rwanda Biomedical Centre (RBC) claims to have the capacity to scale up covid-19 testing after the resumption of both public and private services.
In Kigali, several thousand people were released from confinement on Monday to resume their public and private activities. In response to the concerns expressed by some, RBC’s director general said he is ready to organize more covid-19 testing.
“At the moment we are running more than 1,000 tests for covid-19 per day, but we want to test as many people as possible,” says Dr. Sabin Nsanzimana.
“We are preparing to use the HIV/AIDS testing devices that are available throughout the country for covid-19,” he says. “We are also planning to start using mobile labs,” he says, noting that there is no shortage of testing equipment.
Covid-19 mobile laboratory
Rwanda received a mobile laboratory unit on 22 April 2020. It was donated by the Executive Secretariat of the East African Community (EAC).
“This laboratory will almost double our testing capacity at COVID-19 and its mobile nature will facilitate mass testing throughout the country,” said the Director General of the Rwanda Biomedical Centre, Dr Sabin Nsanzimana.
The mobile laboratory is equipped with test kits and personal protective equipment including gloves, gowns, masks, goggles and shoe guards.
For the time being, after the measures against the coronavirus taken at the Rwandan-Tanzanian border in Rusumo, the number of new infections is low.
As of 04 May 2020, the total number of infections was 261 (+2) positive cases, 128 (+4) recovered, 133 (-2) active cases and 35,096 (+746) tests.
On 05 May 2020, the total coronavirus balance sheet was as follows: 261 (0 new) positive cases, 129 (+1) recovered, 132 (-1) active cases and 35,992 (896) new tests.
Gérard Rugambwa
