Rwanda prisons intensify COVID-19 prevention measures

KIGALI, Nov. 19 (Xinhua) -- Rwanda's ministry of health and Rwanda Correctional Services (RCS) have intensified efforts to contain the further spread of COVID-19 among inmates, a senior official said on Thursday.

George Rwigamba, commissioner general RCS, told reporters that treatment and testing centers have been established in every prison where cases have been reported.

"The ministry of health has deployed medics in affected prisons where they are currently conducting contact tracing and testing in order to ensure that COVID-19 spread is brought under control," said Rwigamba.

He noted that relatives of inmates are not allowed to visit and can only send money through mobile money transactions.

Rwigamba said 192 inmates have so far tested positive to COVID-19 and 12 have died of the virus since the first case was reported in Rwandan prisons.

The commissioner said the prisons are being decongested by sending some of the inmates to participate in community services. Other measures being taken include separating aged inmates from other inmates because they are more vulnerable to the disease.

New inmates are put under a two-week quarantine period before joining others and those who are discharged must be tested before joining the community.