South Sudan Vice-President tests positive for Covid-19

Riek Machar, South Sudan’s Vice-President, has tested posted for the coronavirus, along with his wife, who is also the country’s defence minister, his bodyguards and some other staff.

He said he is not showing any symptoms, and would isolate himself for 14 days.

The vice-president was tested on 13 May following the news that one of the members of the government task force leading the response against covid-19 tested positive.

Mr Machar was, until last week, a member of that task force.

According to the World Health Organisation, the country has recorded 292 positive cases of the virus, of which four have died.

Last week the United Nations confirmed two people inside an over-crowded camp for internally displaced persons had tested positive, triggering fears it would spread rapidly due to the cramped conditions and extremely poor levels of hygiene.

[Photo: Reuters]