More universities closed amid spike in COVID-19 cases

Universities and higher learning institutions in Kigali and in many other districts were closed from 29 June as the number of COVID-19 cases continues to surge in Rwanda.

According to a statement released by the Prime Minister of Rwanda, Dr Edouard Ngirente, Kigali and some of the other districts where more than half of Rwanda’s higher learning institutions are located, are considered pandemic hotspots.

The affected universities are located in the districts of Musanze, Burera, Gicumbi, Kamonyi, Nyagatare, Rubavu, Rutsiro and Rwamagana.

The premier later told news media that the closure of schools and universities was one of the measures put in place by the government to curb the spread of the coronavirus, which is currently causing a sharp spike in positive cases.

Rwanda, which appears to have entered a third wave, has recorded an unprecedented increase of 4,055 positive cases, while at least 34 people have died in the past five days due to COVID-19, according to figures from the ministry of health.

Ngirente said that the government remains vigilant in its attempts to assure that the new measures, as with the previous ones, are in the public interest.

Many universities had earlier opted for online classes or went the blended route but, because some students lack devices such as computers and modems to connect to the internet, it has been hard for universities to formalise online courses.

Jean-Marie Vianney Gatabazi, the minister for local government, told the news media that there are plans to help students return home as they wait for the reopening of their campuses.

He assured students their return home would be smooth as private buses will take them to their permanent residences.

The government considered academic and administrative staff as priority workers and all the staff were vaccinated against COVID-19 in the first phase of the vaccine roll-out. This included staff at university, primary and secondary school level.

However, not all students were vaccinated and more positive cases were recorded in schools and universities, according to officials.

The implementation of the set measures will be revised after two weeks and this is when the fate of the closed universities will be determined, according to the statement.

Elsewhere in the region, Uganda is in a total lockdown, leaving schools and universities shut for six weeks. The lockdown and subsequent closure was announced on 7 June by Ugandan authorities.