South Sudan vice-president catches COVID-19 again

JUBA — South Sudan Vice President for Service Cluster Hussein Abdelbagi has announced that he has, for the second time, been tested positive for the deadly coronavirus.

The senior South Sudanese government official made the revelation during a press conference at his residence in Juba on Tuesday.

“Few days I have been feeling unwell having a cold and flu. Yesterday, I decided to take a COVID test and it turned out to be positive,” Abdelbagi said.

The senior government official also said he has directed for all the people in his house to be screened and quarantine to curtail spread of the virus.

“I have already quarantined myself at my residence …… all family members and staff in my office will be screened and appropriate measures shall be taken to to [curtail] the further spread of the virus at my resident and the office,” he said.

It is not the first time for Abdelbagi to be tested positive for the virus. He was tested positive in 2020 after taking over as head of the coronavirus task force.

Partial lockdown

Hussein who is also the head of the government COVID-19 task force said he has directed a partial lockdown which he said will help to contain the spread of covid-19 across the country.

“The National Taskforces on Coronavirus pandemic is hereby issuing public order on 21/12/2021 to effect the partial lockdown measures which will remain in force until 10 January 2022,” he said.

He warned the public against huge receptions for dead bodies the airport and during funerals.

“We are warning the public to stop receiving dead bodies in numbers at the airport reception and burial, this shall only be attended by not more than 20 immediate relatives, authorized health facilities and travel terminals, domestic are allowed to use the approved antigen-based rapid diagnostic test for the purpose of screening,” he said.