The Rwanda Biomedical Centre (RBC) has explained its decision to allow new arrivals to Rwanda to present negative Covid-19 tests done within 5 days of departure from their point of departure. Since the opening of the country to international travellers by air at the beginning of August, the requirement has been three days (72 hours). Announced Friday, August 14, the changes, according to Dr. Sabin Nsanzimana the Director-General of RBC come in because “it was almost impossible to many travelers to get results from their countries and be able to arrive in three days.” He added that epidemiologically, the increase of the days will allow local medics to perform a second test on the visitors “after enough period of incubation” thus more testing precision. The new changes are mandatory for travelers upon entry into Rwanda starting August 15. RBC emphasized that the only accepted test is a SARS-CoV 2 Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR), and so, other tests such as Rapid Diagnostics Test (RDTs) will not be accepted. In addition, all arriving travelers must complete the passenger locator form and upload the COVID-19 test certificate on the RBC website prior to arrival. All travelers arriving or transiting through Rwanda will be screened upon entry and take a second RT-PCR test to confirm the negative results of the test done prior to arrival. Travelers are required to wait 24 hours for the results of their COVID-19 test in a designated transit hotel; and while in the waiting period, they should observe all prevention measures announced by the Ministry of Health. The Government of Rwanda negotiated special rates at designated transit hotels for the 24 hour waiting period. Tests for the travelers cost 60 USD (includes 50 USD for the test and a medical service fee of 10 USD). The test results are received by SMS or email, and the turnaround time for results is 24hrs from the time a sample is collected. Upon receiving a negative test result, travelers will be allowed to check out of the hotels; and if the results are positive, they (travelers) will be treated until they have fully recovered, at their own cost. “We encourage all travelers to have international travel insurance,” read a statement from RBC.
