Authorities in Kapeota County of Eastern Equatoria State on Monday detained and quarantined 54 people who had traveled from Juba to Kapoeta.
The move follows last month’s decision by the high-level taskforce on COVID-19 to ban all interstate travels due to coronavirus.
Speaking to Radio Tamazuj on Tuesday, Major General Anthony Adil, the police commissioner in greater Kapoeta confirmed the development.
“Yesterday [Monday], about 54 people came to Kapoeta by Lorry from Juba through Torit and as you know, no movement is allowed. This Lorry came right from Juba, Gumbo and Liria to Torit up to Kapoeta. We have detained them for two weeks,” he explained.
Adil said the travelers initially tried to forcefully decline to be quarantined, but were calmed down by politicians from the area.
Major Justin Kleopus Takuru, Torit police spokesperson said the Lorry was stopped at Torit checkpoint. “There are people dealing in animal business who came from Juba. They had earlier taken cows, but they delayed. In the implementation of the presidential order, we stopped them at the checkpoint and returned back their vehicle,” Takuru explained.
He added, “But later on, we got information that this people were dropped on the road and are now in Kapoeta. During our investigations, we found that the passengers in the vehicle went up to Abalwa hills through the bush while the Lorry went empty through town. The passengers later boarded and continued to Kapoeta”.
The police officer cautioned citizens against violating interstate travel ban.