Africa - Five humanoid robots arrive in Rwanda against the coronavirus

Tireless workers, infallible and immune to the virus: a godsend in times of pandemic. There are five of them and they are called Akazuba, Ikizere, Mwiza, Ngabo and Urumuri, Rwandan names which however belong to unedited citizens, since they are humanoid robots produced by a Belgian company. The five were handed over to Rwanda for support in coronavirus screening and the delivery of food and medicines to the sick, but they also work for the videoconference link between patients and doctors.
    In short, their main purpose is to reduce the exposure of health workers to the infection, as Daniel Ngamije, Rwanda's health minister told the BBC. "We need more robots for further tasks, such as disinfection in the public space, and we are working on getting them done," he added.
    Robots can screen at a number ranging from 50 to 150 people per minute, record and store patient data, alert healthcare professionals of abnormalities, warn people without masks or that they wear them improperly.
    Rwanda has two centers for the treatment of Covid-19: one is located on the outskirts of the capital, Kigali, the other in the city of Nyamata, in the south-east of the country, which currently has around 300 positive cases and no deaths. The government of Rwanda was the first in sub-Saharan Africa to apply strict restrictive measures with the aim of containing the spread of the virus. At the beginning of March, despite a still absent contagion, Rwanda prohibited public concerts and rallies to then close the borders and prohibit non-essential movements of its citizens at the end of the same month, when infections were now traveling in double digits. Since May 4, the government has eased some restrictions, but the borders remain closed, except for freight transport and the return of Rwandan citizens. Educational establishments, sports facilities, gyms, bars and places of worship are also closed, while individual sports activities are allowed in open spaces. Travel between provinces continues to be prohibited, while commuters must adhere to the rules of physical spacing in public transportation. A curfew applies from 20.00 to 5.00 local time.