Dr. Riek Machar, wife recovers from COVID-19 – James Gatdet Dak
Photo: South Sudan’s First Vice president Dr. Riek Machar, right, and his wife Angelina Teny while taking oath of office in February
JUBA – South Sudan First Vice-President Dr. Riek Machar Teny and his wife Angelina Teny, the minister of defense, have recovered from the coronavirus and are due to return to their offices next week, a spokesman for the first vice president said this morning.
Machar and Teny tested positive for the COVID-19, the disease that is associated with the novel coronavirus, in May and said they were going into self-quarantine as recommended by the world health organization.
In a statement this morning, Machar’s office announced that the two have recovered after a second test for the virus – since the first positive test – returned positive.
“The second COVID-19 testing has returned NEGATIVE for both the First Vice President, H.E. Dr. Riek Machar Teny-Dhurgon, and the Minister of Defense and Veterans Affairs, H.E. Madam Angelina Teny,” it said.
The statement signed by James Gatdet Dak, the spokesman for Dr. Riek Machar Teny, said the second test was conducted on June 1 and returned yesterday.
He said the two senior government officials will take another five-day before eventually returning to work on June 11 next week.
“This second test was conducted on Monday, 1 June, 2020, and the result came out on Thursday, 4 June, 2020. The two leaders are in good health and ready to resume their public duties,” it said.
“In accordance with the new general criteria from the Ministry of Health, the two officials are required to remain in their residence for 10 more days from 1 June 2020 up to 10 June, 2020. They are therefore expected to resume their normal official duties by Thursday, 11 June, 2020,” the statement added.