Following the wave of the latest new variant of Covid-19 in Rwanda and Burundi, the United Kingdom as put the two respective Countries on its travel ban red list so as to curb down the spread of Covid-19 in UK.
In a statement revealed by the UK Government last week on Thursday, the move to ban travel for these two countries was aimed at reducing the new coronavirus variant from spreading across major parts of the United Kingdom since first identified in South Africa then spread to Rwanda, United Arab Emirates and Burundi.
“From 1 pm on Friday 29 January, passengers who have been in or transited through the United Arab Emirates, Burundi, and Rwanda in the last 10 days will no longer be granted access to the UK,” the statement says.
“Any exemptions usually in place will not apply, including for business travel. British nationals currently in the UAE should make use of the commercial options available if they wish to return to the UK. Indirect commercial routes that will enable British and Irish nationals and residents to return to the UK continue to operate.”
It added: “Today’s action follows new measures announced by the government to minimise travel across international borders and reduce the risk of Covid-19 transmission, including managed isolation in hotels and the need to declare a reason for travel.”
On Friday last week, Rwandair called off flights to UK following the same ban something that may affect the in pipeline plans for Rwanda as a Country to host the 26th Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) slated for June, during which thousands of delegates are expected to fly into the country from various parts of the world.
The twice in a year meeting was initially slated to take place in June last year but was adjusted following the Covid-19 pandemic outbreak and surge in infections across the World.
Rwanda states that it has strategies to upgrade its testing capacity to track new variants of the Coronavirus.
The country is experiencing a deadlier second wave of the coronavirus pandemic that has claimed 186 people and infected 14,529 people as of Thursday, January 28.
The country currently has 5,109 active cases while 9,234 people have recovered.
Kigali has so far spent 11 days close under a total lockdown due to a surge of infections.
Due to a persistent rise in cases, the country’s positivity rate is now 7.2 percent.
A cabinet meeting is expected in the next few days to assess the progress in curbing the virus and issue new measures.
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