- Riek Machar has been part of a high-level taskforce on COVID-19 and the team was tested on May 13
- The vice president, his wife Angelina Teny and some of his staff tested positive for teh virus
- Although they are still in good health, they have been taken into quarantine for next 14 days
South Sudan's Vice President, Riek Machar and his wife Angelina Teny have tested positive for the dreaded coronavirus disease.
In a statement issued by his Press Secretary, Gatdet Dak, on Monday, May 19, a number of his staff also tested positive and have since been taken into mandatory quarantine.
Machar was a member of a high level taskforce on COVID-19 and was found positive after the team was tested on May 13.
"This came as a result of the testing done by members of the High-Level Taskforce on Wednesday. A number of other previous members of the taskforce also tested positive," read the statement.
Gatek said Machar had taken an earlier test on April 27 but the results came out negative.
Machar said he will self-quarantine in his residence for the next 14 days with the other staff who also tested positive.
"He is healthy and also confirmed by the doctor," said Gatek.
The youngest nation in Africa has over 290 confirmed cases of COVID-19 with four deaths and four recoveries.
Last week authorities reported two COVID-19 cases in a camp outside the capital Juba, raising concerns among humanitarians that the infection could devastate the crowded settlement.
Source: REUTERS
Comments