Authorities in Rwanda say it has confirmed the presence of new variants of the Covid-19 virus first identified in the UK and South Africa.
Health Minister Daniel Ngamije told the state broadcaster that 12 cases of the South African variant (B.1.351) and two of the UK variant (B.1.1.7) were identified last week.
The variants were found in 400 samples “that they were able to sequence between October 2020 and February 2021,” the minister said.
Dr Ngamije said the variants were identified among travellers who arrived at the country’s Kigali International Airport. They were put in isolation until they tested negative.
In January, the UK added Rwanda to its travel ban list for fear of the South African variant.
Meanwhile, 97% of the more than 340,000 doses of the Oxford-AstraZeneca and Pfizer vaccines that Rwanda received through the Covax facility have been administered, the minister said.
Rwanda has reported nearly 21,000 cases of coronavirus and 290 deaths.
Follow us on:
IPOB distanced itself from Simon Ekpa, calling him a “destructive agent” who infiltrated and destabilised…
Biden has condemned ICC's arrest warrants for Netanyahu and Gallant, calling them "outrageous" amid global…
Chukwuma Ezeala has said that despite Simon Ekpa’s arrest, identifying his disciples in Southeast Nigeria…
The federal government has reinstated Professor Joseph Ikechebelu as acting Vice-Chancellor of UNIZIK, nullifying Professor…
Court of Appeal has overturned the Federal High Court ruling barring INEC from releasing voter…
Kenya has cancelled airport and energy deals with Adani following US bribery and fraud charges…