Health authorities in the town of Bor have distributed locally-made face masks to traders to help keep them safe from the COVID-19 virus.
John Makuei, the deputy director of the public health department in Bor municipality, told Radio Tamazuj that 2,147 face masks have been distributed.
“We gave out 571 masks to restaurants, hotels, vegetable vendors and other groups in Marol Market on Wednesday. On Thursday, we gave out 676 and 900 on Friday. We also target boda-boda operators, divers and other vulnerable groups,” Makuei explained.
The health official further pointed out that they have also embarked on health education campaigns about coronavirus in Bor town.
Ngang Philip, the Finance Secretary for Jonglei Civil Society Network, said the face masks were donated to state authorities to assist them in efforts to prevent the spread of COVID-19 among the population.
South Sudan on Saturday recorded its sixth case of coronavirus.
Key symptoms of the new coronavirus include fever, dry cough and shortness of breath. The virus is spread when an infected person coughs or sneezes and the droplets land in the mouths and noses of another person.
A person can also get infected with coronavirus by touching a surface or object that has the virus on it and then touching their own mouth, nose, or their eyes.
The most effective ways to protect yourself and others against COVID-19 are to frequently clean your hands, cover your cough with the bend of elbow or tissue, and maintain a distance of at least 1 meter from people who are coughing or sneezing.