Riek Machar, His Wife, Bodyguards Test Positive Of Covid-19

South Sudan’s First Vice-President Riek Machar, his wife Angelina Teny, as well as his bodyguards have tested positive of Covid-19.

According to a statement from Dr. Machar’s office, he and his wife, who is a defense minister, contracted the virus from infected members of the high-level task force that had been selected to battle Covid-19.

The statement further indicated that a number of staffers in Machar’s office, including bodyguards, had tested positive of the virus. Their names were not released but their families have been notified.

Riek Machar and his wife say they will be isolated at their home in Juba for the next two weeks to manage the virus. They say they have been asymptomatic all along but healthy.

South Sudan was among the last countries in East Africa to report a case in Covid-19. The number of confirmed cases has since risen to 290 with at least four deaths. There are no recoveries.

South Sudan is among the few countries in the world with the worst health facilities/sector, with systems having been destroyed after many years of war. Machar says he decided to declare his status to help in fighting the panic that is now associated with Covid-19.

“All our colleagues that have tested positive are in good health. From now own, we shall be quarantining ourselves in our house. A doctor may be visiting us until the time they will tell us it is the time to end the quarantine. All our colleagues will also be self-quarantining,” said the statement.

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