The first patient of COVID-19 in Rwanda who is currently receiving treatment might be discharged in the coming days.

The other 40 patients also remain in a stable condition at Kanyinya Health Facility where all patients are receiving treatment

Rwanda’s Minister of Health Dr Daniel Ngamije, confirmed to Rwanda Today that the first group of COVID-19 patients have improved because they no longer have symptoms of the virus.

“We will take more tests on the first group of patients and if they test negative will be discharged. There is hope that by the end of this week the first two patients of COVID-19, a wife and husband will go back home,” said Dr Ngamije.

Dr Ngamije said the first 17 COVID-19 patients had contacts with over 688 people before they were isolated and they have traced 68 per cent of them which is around 468 people.

The ministry says it has observed that the majority of contacts are concentrated in Kigali hence certain that all will be traced and isolated to ensure they do not  spread the virus to other parts of the country.

“All COVID-19 patients are in stable condition because up to date, no patient has been put in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) for special care which requires oxygen inhalation support. The 40 patients have mild illnesses of the diseases,” the ministry said.

An official from Rwanda Biomedical Centre earlier this week told Rwanda Today that the traced people who had contacts with COVID-19 patients have been isolated and quarantined in different sites including Kanyinya Isolation Centre and Kabgayi site in Muhanga District.

He said that the Kabgayi site and Kanyinya in Gasabo District can receive between 250 and 300 and 65 Coronavirus suspected cases respectively.

He further added that they have marked different isolation places where at least each hospital both private and public have set aside rooms in case for any COVID-19 patient.

For instance, in each 48 District hospitals, they have isolated two rooms in, 18 rooms in the city of Kigali hospitals and 25 only at Kanombe Military Hospital and about 60 rooms provided by 30 private hospitals.

Rwanda Today has learnt that other passengers who came to Kigali from countries with confirmed cases of the disease are self-quarantine at hotels selected by government, isolation centres, with the majority at Kigali Conference and Exhibition Village.