SOUTH SUDAN: High-level Taskforce Extends Lockdown Indefinitely
Catholic Radio Network
South Sudan government’s high-level taskforce on COVID-19 pandemic has extended the Coronavirus restrictions until further notice.
On March 16, the task force stopped international flights, closed borders, and banned all gatherings including sports, religious and cultural activities.
It also closed all learning institutions as a measure to promote social distancing.
Further, it encouraged people to practice regular hand-washing with soap among other measures.
Meanwhile, inter-State movement of people has also been frozen, with bans on both private and public transportation and night curfew imposed from 8 PM to 6 AM.
All bars and night clubs remain closed but restaurants are allowed to open until 8 PM.
In its regular meeting on Tuesday April 21, the taskforce headed by President Salva Kiir and deputized by First Vice President Dr. Riek Machar, resolved to extend these measures until further notice.
Uganda and Rwanda have imposed a total lockdown in their fight against COVID-19, becoming the most rigorous government response to the infection in East Africa.
South Sudan and other countries in the region have imposed restrictions and closures only on sectors, measures which leave the country with the greatest potential for the Coronavirus to spread.
So far, South Sudan has recorded only a total of four Coronavirus cases with no deaths.
