The COVID-19 pandemic is not just satisfied with decimating and disrupting lives it is also challenging science, politics and common sense.

There is never a day that passes without new theories on its origin, capacity to mutate, life cycle on surfaces as well as different means of its propagation.

When the virus first erupted, everyone’s attention was turned towards Africa where they were predicting that its poor health infrastructure would be its Achilles’ heel; if the Coronavirus made landfall on the continent, it could spell doom.

But Africa seems to be holding fort for the time being although the way some countries are handling the outbreak is less than encouraging and they are sitting on a ticking time bomb.

Right now, many African countries have ramped up their contact-tracing and testing capabilities, including this region. Although many countries are not so forthcoming with their data, Kenya, which has the highest number of COVID-19 with over 500, has already tested over 25,000 people and registered 24 deaths.

Rwanda is still under the 300 threshold having tested over 33,000 people and has not reported any deaths.  But continuous vigilance is needed; it is not just a matter of putting the mask on the chin, but complying even to the simplest of gestures of pulling the mask to cover the nose and mouth, especially in crowded areas. It is not too much to ask.

 It might be overlooked, but it is essential because a simple everyday gesture draws a thin line between deciding the fate of one’s compatriots’ fate.