COVID-19 cases decrease by nearly 27 percent, Health officials say

By Winnie Cirino. 

The number of people testing positive for covid-19 in South Sudan has fallen by 26.9 percent this week, according to health officials in Juba.

Doctor Bior Kwer Bior, the head of South Sudan’s emergency operations center in Juba said last Sunday that more people are adhering to the Covid-19 preventive measures.

According to data from the health ministry, a total of 61 samples were tested at the public health laboratory in Juba and none of them returned a positive result.  Out of the 45 samples tested in Nimule, none returned positive, while out of 14 samples tested in Pamir, nine returned positive results. In Kapoeta, seven samples taken, none tested positive.

A total of 650 results were released on Saturday and only 19 samples tested positive for covid 19 and Bior says this is a great improvement compared with a few months ago when several samples returned positive test results daily. 

“What we’re seeing is that average case count and professional daily casing and positive rates are decreasing, which is good news for South Sudan.” Bior told reporters in Juba.

“As it stands, we have on average 12 cases per day and the positivity rate is 2.1 percent. On a weekly comparison for the last 45 weeks, we have observed a 26.9 decrease in the number of cases from week 44 to week 45 which is now, and we have zero cases of people admitted in the ICU.” 

“It’s obvious that citizens are complying with Covid 19 measures that were put in place, people are going for vaccinations, people are wearing their masks like we are doing now and people are also avoiding crowded places and there’s a number of people who have been vaccinated.” Bior said.

26-year-old Ruth Nyanel says she takes Covid 19 very seriously. She washes her hands more frequently and avoids touching her nose, mouth and eyes to reduce the chances of her falling sick. She also gets enough rest and stays home when she’s not feeling well. 

Nyanel contacted the Covid 19 emergency number 6666 once when she suspected she had Covid 19. She also calls the number for guidance when she’s not feeling well but she takes other strict measures to keep safe. 

“In my office or at home, I don’t share any house items with any of my staff or any member of my family. Everybody have their own cups, and then bath things like towels are not washed together,”

“We always disinfect objects, and we have hand sanitizers that are made locally. Some are spraying around the house and others are put on the socket and it sprays and then I sleep well for my immune system to work best.” Nyanel said.

She also ensures her tea or food has some lemon, ginger, and better leaves served with it. 

30-year-old Denis Logonyi Wani still follows the coronavirus precautionary measures despite being vaccinated against Covid 19.

“I make sure I social distance myself when I’m in a crowded area, I make sure I’m in the distance, wearing a mask at all times wherever I’m out there with people or sometimes when I’m alone.”

“Washing hands as a priority, sanitizing when there is no water to wash, also reporting myself to the health center whenever I feel like I have flu-like symptoms, these are some of the measures that were taught to us and I am very glad they have helped me.” Wani says.