Kiir says ‘Covit-19’ is practically in Juba and Torit, While UNMISS Chief offers to coordinate efforts against the killer virus!
Juba, PR 09 April 2020
President Salva Kiir Mayardit said Coronavirus has already entered South Sudan, encouraging members of the public to follow the guidelines of the public health authorities to keep safe.
He said the health authorities traced a total of 65 people who have had contacts with the patients of coronavirus.
In his speech to the public on Thursday, he said South Sudan has now three cases confirmed; two work for UN and the third is a woman who arrived Juba recently from Nairobi.
“COVID-19 is practically in Juba and Torit. We must prevent it from spreading further across the country.” Kiir said.
Earlier, The UNMISS Chief, David Shearer told media that UNMISS had cases which had already been confirmed and they are now in isolation.
So far there are no cases to worry about among the IDPs at the civilian protection sites across the country. He assured,
UNMISS concerned authorities are tracing contacts of those patients who have had already caught the virus.
This will be done in conjunction with the concerned authorities in the Government of South Sudan. They will have to be screened, and if they are found positive they would be in isolation too.
Shearer commented on the overwhelming fears among the IDPs after the security forces cordoned off UNMISS facilities last week, because, some have accused the IDPs of having contracted the virus, mainly at Malakal and Juba sites.
And at gun points, the security forces started to prevent families from moving around freely and outside the camps for fear of spreading the virus and pass it to others.
The representatives of the IDPs were alarmed by this news complaining that such action shows bad intention, it would strain and limit their abilities to provide for their loved ones particularly in this distressful period.
UNMISS stated that they don’t normally limit the IDPs from moving freely around within UN facilities or outside if they choose to do so.
But, if there are security concerns affecting the IDPs movements now, it could be from the security or the local authorities concerned.
A situation denied promptly by Maj-Gen. Lul Ruai, SSPDF Spokesman, that they are always being blamed for anything they haven’t done, adding that they aren’t the only security forces on the ground out there.
So far, UNMISS shelters about 187,942 civilians in their protection facilities across South Sudan.
MP
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