May 30, 2020 (JUBA) - South Sudan’s Vice President James Wani Igga has tested positive for coronavirus, becoming the third vice-president and the fifth member of the government to catch the respiratory disease.
Igga informed the country of his infection in statements to South Sudan’s TV on Saturday.
"My samples were taken for testing a few days ago and today it has been found positive for corona," he said.
"I encourage all South Sudanese to really go for testing. This is very important so that we stop the spread of this pandemic to more people," he further said.
First Vice-President Riek Machar, his wife and Defence Minister Angelina Teny were the first to be tested positive, followed by Information Minister Michael Makuei and recently Vice-President Hussein Abdelbagi tested positive.
Health Minister Elizabeth Achuei on Saturday disclosed after meeting President Salva Kiir she had requested him to impose a lockdown in the country. She added the measure is needed to contain the coronavirus spread in the country.
South Sudan’s Inspector General of Police Gen Majak Akech Malok also met with President Kiir on Saturday. After the meeting, he urged South Sudanese to stay home and avoid crowded are.
"If the citizens don’t observe and abide by the preventive measures then the police will take the responsibility to ensure that people respect the orders of preventive measures," he warned.
(ST)
Latest Comments & Analysis
Darfuris call for protection in vain 2021-01-21 06:45:46 By Mohamed Osman “It is the same as in the old days,” Adam Rojal, a coordinator in an internally displaced community in Sudan’s Darfur region told me recently, describing ongoing violence from (...)
Invisible female victims of armed militia attacks in Darfur 2021-01-08 15:19:56 By SIHA Network* On October 19th 2020, an armed group burned down the IDP camps of Oum Assal, Babanousa and Om Zegerat in Gerida locality. Gerida locality is composed of a number of villages (...)
Account Inventory for December Revolution in Sudan 2020-12-19 20:34:35 By Mahmoud A. Suleiman This article comes against the backdrop of Sudan's Third Revolution as some like to call it, two years later during which Much has been achieved but risks still remain, (...)
MORE