South Sudan suspends interstate travels over COVID-19

By Our Correspondent, JUBA South Sudan

South Sudan has suspended all passenger internal flights from Juba to the states, from states to Juba and from states to states following the latest development involving the COVID-19 outbreak.

The decision was taken in Juba on Monday during a meeting of the High-Level Taskforce on COVID-19 chaired by First Vice President, Riek Machar.

Machar, who is also the deputy chairperson of the COVID-19 taskforce, told reporters that passenger public transport systems, both public and private, to and from Juba and from one state to another have been suspended effective from Wednesday.

“The presidency reaffirms the exemptions decided previously by the High-Level Taskforce. The High-Level Taskforce shall decide any new exemptions on case by case basis,” he said.

According to the First Vice President, the High-Level Taskforce also resolved to grant permission to the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) aircraft DASH-8-402 for cargo transportation flight from Nairobi to Juba on Friday, April 17.

“There shall be four security personnel in addition to five crew members on board,” he explained.

Machar stated that the High-Level Taskforce on Coronavirus (COVID-19) remains seized of the situation in the country.

South Sudan on Friday reported a new coronavirus case, raising its total number of patients to four - Africa