South Sudan has recorded 28 new cases of the coronavirus pandemic, First Vice President Dr Riek Machar has announced.
Dr Machar, who is the deputy chairperson of the High-Level Taskforce on Covid-19, announced the new cases in Juba Tuesday evening.
A total of 139 people were tested for the virus on April 28, according to the taskforce.
“Of these, 28 cases were confirmed positive while 10, including two truck drivers at Nimule border crossing were equivocal and need a retest,” reads a statement in parts.
This brings the total number of coronavirus patients in the country to 34.
All the new cases are contacts of the fifth person to catch Covid-19 in Juba early this month.
The fifth patient – a member of the Tonj Community Peace Initiative – tested positive on 23 April. The unnamed patient was put in an isolation center and his contacts traced.
In a statement, the taskforce orders quarantine, for at least 14 days, all contacts and all members of the Tonj Community Peace Initiative.
“Non-compliance with these directives will attract punitive action, including forceful quarantine,” it continues.
On Sunday, the coronavirus prevention committee announced the 6th patient, whom it suspected might have come into contact with 101 people before he was quarantined.
It now wants the 101 people quarantined or “noncompliance will attract punitive action, including forceful quarantine”.
Coronavirus is an infectious disease caused by a newly discovered virus.
You can be infected by breathing in the virus if you are within proximity of someone who has coronavirus, or by touching a contaminated surface and then your eyes, nose or mouth.
You can protect yourself by cleaning your hands often with soap and water or use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.