As we stretch into another month of the COVID-19, people have gotten the hang of it and are taking it in their stride. Social distancing is already part of life and it is being practiced subconsciously; instincts simply kick in when one meets an acquaintance, there is no longer that automatic impulse to hug or shake hands. Of course life has been disrupted, but institutions are stepping in to ease the burden and people have been very generous with their less-fortunate countrymen. One of the major banks has introduced a bailout package for employees who can get cash advances of up to double one’s salary at short notice and interest payments suspended for the time being. That is very generous indeed. However, there is a group of people who deserve special mention; they are the faceless people working on the frontline to curb the virus; the healthcare givers, security agencies and hundreds or thousands working behind the scenes to track potential patients. And then there is the State. In many countries people forced into quarantine are obliged to foot their own bills for the entire period of stay and there are many reports of people escaping the confinement because of untenable conditions. The State also picks the tab for all COVID-19 patients, a feat many other countries cannot lay claim to. No, Rwanda is not rich materially; it has the wellbeing of its people at heart since people are its main assets. So people should show their appreciation by not burdening the State further by toying with the virus. They should follow guidelines to reduce the likelihood of contracting the disease. Yes, the State has been a generous guardian, let people do the same by staying safe.
