South Sudan reintroduces COVID-19 restrictions

December 21, 2021 (JUBA) – South Sudan reintroduced again some restrictions including partial lockdown to curb the spread of COVID 19 in the country.

The National Taskforce imposed a ban on social gatherings and entertainment sites as well as a night curfew starting 10 pm to 6 am.

In a statement on Tuesday, the task force stated that the wearing of a face mask is mandatory and citizens are required to observe social distancing while avoiding a handshake.

Further, it pointed that the recent surge of respiratory disease requires such restrictions.

“The national taskforce is hereby once again putting in place necessary measures to prevent the spread of Covid-19 as follows, enforcing lockdown with effect from 21st December 2021 to 10th January 2022,” he announced on Tuesday.

Over 500 new cases have been recorded, according to the ministry of health.

There have been 13,500 infections and 133 coronavirus-related deaths reported in the country since the pandemic began.

For his part, South Sudan’s Vice-President for Service Cluster said that the measures are meant to contain the resurgence of the virus.

Hussein Abdelbagi announced that he tested positive for the pandemic. He remains under self-isolation at his residence.

Few people are vaccinated in South Sudan.

As of 15 December 2021, a total of 268,640 vaccine doses have been administered, says the World Health Organization.

As every person needs 2 doses, the number of vaccinated people could be estimated at 134,320 people, assuming that all the doses have been used.
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(ST)