• Defence Minister Angelina Teny said she anticipated a positive test result after losing her sense of smell, one of Covid-19 symptoms, more than a week ago.
• Teny said she took the test after members of the Covid-19 task force contracted the virus. She says she had met two people in the Defence ministry who later died from Covid-19.
South Sudan’s First Vice President Riek Machar, his wife and Defence Minister Angelina Teny, their staff and bodyguards on Monday tested positive for coronavirus.
“I want to declare that, I, the deputy chair of the high-level task force has been tested and found positive. There are other members who are also tested and found positive. I can only say at this stage that Madam Angelina Teny, the Minister of Defence and Veteran Affairs is also found positive,” Machar said in a televised address to the nation.
Teny, until last week, was the deputy chairman of the country’s High Level Task Force Committee on Covid-19, which reported one of the four coronavirus victims was a “high profile.”
This means Machar and his wife are among the first senior South Sudan government officials who have tested positive for the novel virus.
Minister Teny said she anticipated a positive test result after losing her sense of smell, one of Covid-19 symptoms, more than a week ago.
Teny said she took the test after members of the Covid-19 task force contracted the virus. She says she had met two people in the Defence ministry who later died from Covid-19.
Machar’s Press Secretary James Gatdet Dak members of the High Level Task force took the test on Wednesday, May 13.
The other previous members of the task force who tested positive are Minister of Cabinet Affairs Dr. Martin Elia Lomurö, Interior Minister Paul Mayom Akec, Minister of National Security Obote Mamur Mete, Finance and Planning Minister Salvatore Garang Mabiordit, Trade and Industry’s Kuol Athian, Minister and Information Minister Michael Makwei Lueth.
Interestingly, Minister Lueth recently caused uproar after saying in a social media video that there is no coronavirus in South Sudan.
Health Minister Elizabeth Acuai Yor and chairperson for the task force, however, tested negative last week.
“Fortunately, the Minister of Health is not among us who have been found positive. She tested the day before we took the test and she was found negative,” Machar said.
Dr Machar had on April 27 tested negative for the virus.
The President and the wife said they will self-quarantine in his residence for the next 14 days, from where they will discharge their respective responsibilities.
South Sudan has 347 confirmed Covid-19 cases, with four recoveries and five deaths.
Among the dead is business tycoon Athian Achiech Majok, a close ally of President Salva Kiir.
Majok was declared dead in Juba on Monday at John Garang Infectious Disease Center, after he was rushed to hospital after developing complications related to Covid-19.
