Gov’t ups surveillance to tame new infection, avert omicron influx

The National Taskforce on Coronavirus has activated surveillance to combat the spread of COVID-19 citing the surge in infections and the perils posed by the dreaded omicron variant.

In a circular issued yesterday by the Chairperson of the National Taskforce on COVID-19 pandemic, Hussein Abdelbagi, the measures include the return to the containment measures to contain the movements and the spread of COVID-19. The measures apply from December 21, 2021, to January 10, 2022.

According to Abdelbagi, who is the Vice President for Service Cluster, the initiative is timely given that the whole world is experiencing the fourth wave of the virus as was announced by the World Health Organization (WHO). The emergence of the omicron variant has equally complicated the fight against the disease.

“The recent increase in the number of positive cases coupled with the announcement of the fourth wave by the World Health Organization, the National Taskforce on Coronavirus pandemic is hereby issuing the public order number 16, 2021 dated 21^st December 2021, to effect the parcel lockdown measures which will remain in force until 10^th January 2022” he noted in a statement on Tuesday.

Orders issued

Pursuant to this, the task force issued seven orders. They include enforcing total lockdown from December 21, 2021, to January 10, 2022, and warning the people to stop receiving dead bodies in large numbers at the airport reception. It wants the funeral rites conducted with not more than 20 immediate relatives present.

It also recommended that authorised health facilities and domestic travel terminals use the approved antigen rapid diagnose test, RTDS, for screening purposes, and that all public and private health facilities not to admit COVID patients or suspects without first notifying the Public Health Emergency Operations Centre.

The task force has also directed Juba City Council and other municipal councils to ensure the traders, hotels, customers, and the general public adheres to environmental cleanliness and sanitation, as well as COVID-19 guidelines and lockdown measures.

All the places of worship, entertainment spots like discos, public and private transport hubs, hotels, restaurants, tea places, and markets are directed to reinforce their respective guidelines on COVID-19 preventive measures the Vice president said.

“In the view of the above, the National taskforce is hereby once again putting the necessary measures to prevent widespread of COVID-19 across the country,” he pronounced the orders to media.

“I urge all the citizens to stay safe and follow all the health safety protocols. The national taskforce instructs law enforcement agencies to take immediate action to enforce the order as of today 21^st December 2021” he directed.

According to Abdelbagi, the country has received enough vaccines that individuals can obtain at designated locations of public health facilities throughout South Sudan’s 10 states. He pointed out that foreign nationals make up the majority of individuals seeking vaccination.

 “We have 261 shots of J & J that you can get once present in the country. This week we found out that most of our people have not gone for the vaccine the foreigners went and today we learned that the foreigners are the majority who go for vaccination” he revealed.

He recommended to the public, particularly those travelling to the states, to be vaccinated or test for COVID to avoid inconveniences when travelling when asked for a COVID-19 vaccination certificate or a COVID test upon arrival or departure.

The vice president warned that the national task force would set up checkpoints along all roads connecting Juba to the states, including the airport, to check for COVID-19 certificates.

“We have five major roads to Juba Yei Road, Western Equatoria State, Terekak, Bor Road, Torit, and the road leading to Nimule. If you don’t have a certificate to show that you’ve been vaccinated; you’ll be asked to get out of the car, meaning you’ll have wasted your money.’’

“And it will be mandatory even at the airport for individuals flying to the states to obtain a COVID test certificate or get COVID immunization.’’ he continued.