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South Sudan Officials, COVID Task Force Test Positive for Virus

Manyang David Mayar

   JUBA - South Sudan's government spokesperson MichaelMakueisaidhe and
   all members of the nation's 15-member coronavirus task force have
   tested positive for the virus.

   "Yes, I am positive. I am informed that all the members of the former
   committee are positive,"Makueitold VOA's South Sudan in Focus on
   Tuesday."We are self-quarantined. Those of the diagnosing center are
   supposed to come and take the samples of the contact persons,starting
   with my family.But up to now,they have not reported."

   South Sudan's First Vice President Riek Machar revealed on state
   television Monday that he and his wife, AngelinaTeny, the minister of
   defense andveteransaffairs, tested positive for the coronavirus after
   members of the formerhigh-level taskforcetook a mandatory test last
   week.

   Exposed during meetings

   Makueisaidtask force members were exposed to the virus during several
   meetings they held in the capital.

   Dr. Anthony Garang,acting chairman oftheSouth Sudan Doctors'
   Union,saidmany South Sudanese,includingthetask force members,are
   contracting the virus because they refuse to follow preventative
   measures like wearingfacemasks.

   "Using the masks has its own ways. It does not mean that when you are
   wearing a mask,that is it. You need to wear it properly. You need to
   put it on properly. And once you put it on, you need to make sure you
   don't remove it, you don't touch it with your hands and touch other
   parts of your body with it. That is oneparticular thingthat was missed.
   People could wear a mask,and when they want totalk,they pull it down
   and they talk.Then,they put it back and they don't immediately wash,"
   Garang said.

   South Sudan President SalvaKiirdissolved the former High-Level Task
   Force for COVID-19 over the weekend and formed another one headed by
   HusseinAbdelbagi, vice president in charge of the government's service
   cluster.

   Makueisaidthis second team will continue the fight against the pandemic
   in South Sudan.As of Mondayevening,South Sudan reported 347 confirmed
   cases, four recoveries and six deaths.

   Follow preventative measures

   Garang saidin order to prevent further spread of the pandemic,
   everyonemust adhere to preventative measures outlined by the World
   Health Organization.

   He saidtask force members could have contracted the disease from anyone
   theyencounteredwho did notobserve protective measures.

   "The people who are staying(with)those big people might not be
   observing these measures--the wearing of face masksor washing hands and
   even mixing with other people.People like drivers, people like guides.
   They can go and mix with people and get the virus,and in the process of
   trying to help, they can also contaminate surfaces.And the person comes
   and touch those surfaces,and then you can get contaminated," he said.

   Garang, a general practitioner, saidthe government should inform the
   public that wearing masks is mandatory, and ensurethat people who test
   positive strictly observeself-quarantine guidelines.

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