Gov’t starts mandatory COVID-19 testing for incoming travelers

JUBA – South Sudan has started mandatory COVID-19 testing for all incoming travelers, according to health expert.

Speaking to reporters during a weekly briefing on COVID-19 at Emergency Operation Center (EOP) in Juba on Sunday, Dr. Angelo Goup, the Manager for Emergency Operation Centre said the measures are intended to curb a further importation of the deadly coronavirus into the country

Guop added that the measures will curb further transmission and guard against a third wave.

“As part of the directive issued by South Sudan Taskforce, the airport has started testing using rapid diagnostic test; one of the private laboratories was given authority to test arrivals at the airport,” Dr. Goup told reporters during Sunday’s briefing.

On 18 October, South Sudan’s National Taskforce resolved to carry out a mass vaccination program in all the public and private institutions using rapid diagnostic tests to gauge the level of infections in the country.

The chief EOP warned of a possible resurgence of deadly virus as the country continues to witness an increase in infection rate.

“What I say here is COVID-19 still exists in the country and we are at the alarm level. We are not at the resurgence level yet,” he said.