South Sudan has confirmed its first case of COVID-19.
Vice president, Riek Machar, made this known on Sunday, becoming the latest African nation to report a case of the disease caused by the new coronavirus.
Machar said a 29-year old patient arrived in the country from Ethiopia on February 28, and that she was being treated in isolation.
In a statement, the UN Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) said the woman is a member of its staff.
She tested positive for coronavirus on Saturday after presenting herself at a UN clinic on Thursday.
“The Ministry of Health is leading a full investigation with the World Health Organization and the Center for Disease Control and Prevention including identifying and following up all the possible contacts and next steps,” Machar said.
South Sudan has already closed bars, night clubs and shops, other than those selling food, and encouraged people to observe social distancing rules.
Borders have been shut and the country’s international airport closed. A curfew is also in place from 8:00 pm to 06:00 am.
