Police in Western Equatoria State have deployed forces to the South Sudan border with the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) to prevent entry of people in the wake of COVID-19 spread.

Speaking to Radio Tamazuj on Friday, Police Commissioner James Mande Enoka said the move to deploy forces along the border was a preventive measure against the deadly pandemic.

Enoka did not say how many police forces had been deployed to the border with the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).

He said an agreement has also been struck with local chiefs in the area to monitor all the roads and report to the forces on the ground in a bid to curb the spread of COVID-19.

Enoka further appealed to the public to avoid direct contact with others such as shaking hands and hugging for their safety.

South Sudan, which has registered one case of the new coronavirus, is stepping up its efforts to prevent the spread of the pandemic.