South Sudan’s Vice President has tested positive for coronavirus. Gen. Hussein Abdelbagi becomes the fourth senior official known to have gotten infected.
Hussein is also the head of the country’s High-Level Taskforce on COVID-19, a body formed by President Salva Kiir to fight against the virus.
In a statement to state media in Juba on Wednesday, Vice President Hussein Abdelbagi said he would place himself under self-quarantine for the next 14 days and carry out his duties from home.
Hussein has called on South Sudanese to strictly adhere to protocols set out by the Ministry of health so as to stem the spread of coronavirus in the country.
The government official underscored regular washing of hands with soap, wearing of masks and social distancing as some of the key guidelines that South Sudanese need to follow strictly in order to limit the spread of the virus.
Separately, the taskforce on Wednesday said the number of confirmed cases of the coronavirus reached 994 after 188 people tested positive in the last 24 hours.
Dr. Makur Koryom, a member of the high-level taskforce, said the number of fatalities in the country has risen now reaching 10 after two more fatalities were recorded.
No recovery was reported and cumulatively the tally remains at six.
Health experts have raised concerns that the poor healthcare system in South Sudan could cause havoc.