Conclusion
Thus far in the pandemic, Rwanda has one of the lowest incidence rates
of COVID-19 infection on the African continent. This is a testament to
the country’s early planning and aggressive use of innovative
strategies. Rwanda formed a six month National COVID-19 Preparedness and
Response Plan that detailed protocols for early testing, contact
tracing, community health workers outreach, strengthening communication
with the public, screening of travelers at ports of entry, and
identifying and assessing countries’ hot spots.20 The
use of social media platforms for public communication, drones/robots to
disseminate accurate information, and national toll free numbers have
been key successful public health responses.8 Rwanda
was able to begin easing lockdown restrictions on May 4, 2020 and has
continued to lift or reinstate restrictions based on continuous risk
assessment.17 Although the trajectory of this virus is
hard to predict due to its novelty, innovative strategies used in Rwanda
may also be beneficial in other settings.