South Sudan’s VP Nyandeng tests positive for Coronavirus
March 18, 2021 (NAIROBI) – South Sudan’s Vice President in the country’s unity government, Rebecca Nyandeng de Mabior has contracted and tested positive for Covid-19, her office said.
Nyandeng, who is in-charge of the gender and youth cluster, is currently in Nairobi, Kenya, where she confirmed contracting the virus.
She said she remains in isolation to monitor her health condition.
“I am feeling well now. My oxygen level is good, it is just the cough and the sore throat,” Nyandeng said Thursday.
The Vice President urged South Sudanese to adhere to preventive measures and called on the government to embark on creating awareness campaigns among people on the dangers of Covid-19.
She is the latest high-profile figure in South Sudan to test positive for Covid-19.
Many people, according to observers, have contracted Covid-19 in South Sudan because of failing to adhere to preventive measures.
The Executive Director in the Vice President’s office, Chat Paul Nul, said his boss called and informed him and staff of her condition.
“She called to tell me about the disease and to give some advice about how to run the office and manage staff. I think she got the disease from Nairobi because when she was fine when she left South Sudan. She is currently home and in a very stable condition. There is no need to worry,” he explained.
South Sudan has registered 9,768 Covid-19 infections and 106 deaths, according to data from the National Ministry of Health.
In February, over 20 employees at the president’s office tested positive for Covid-19. The president’s office was prompted to dismiss speculation that President Salva Kiir had contracted the virus.
South Sudan registered its first Covid-19 case on April 5, 2020.
Eelier this month, the National Taskforce on Covid-19 extended the national partial lockdown for one more month, listing several punitive measures, including imposing fines against violators.
The Covid-19 task force chairman, Vice President Hussein Abdelbagi Akol said the partial lockdown extension would run until April 3, 2021.
(ST)