BREAKING: Kiir’s Press Secretary Ateny Wek has COVID-19

JUBA – South Sudan president’s Press Secretary Ateny Wek Ateny has said he has tested positive for the deadly coronavirus disease saying he was isolating for the 14 days recommended by the World Health Organization.

In a brief social media statement this afternoon, Ateny said he learned that he has contracted the virus after the office of the President ordered all employees there to go for compulsory coronavirus testing.

“I have tested positive to Covid 19 – having adhered to the mandatory test carried out by Dr. John  Garang Infectious Disease on orders from Office of the President,” he said in a statement seen by Sudans Post.

While he said he has no symptoms, the top presidential media official said he will isolate for 14 days as recommended by the world health organization.

“I must continue on self isolation until when it is right to go about my normal duties,” he added.

The latest announcement is not the first for a senior government official to test for the deadly virus, but an addition to an existing list that includes the country’s First Vice President Dr. Riek Machar Teny.

Machar and his wife Angelina Teny who is also the country’s defense minister tested positive for the virus last year after one member of a team working as COVID-19 task-force committee exposed all to the virus.

Others infected includes vice-president James Wani Igga and Hussein Abdelbaggi as well as minister of information and government spokesman, Michael Makuei Lueth.