South Sudan's fifth vice-president Hussein Abdelbagi has tested positive for COVID-19, state media report.

Abdelbagi is also the head of the country's High-Level Taskforce on COVID-19, a body formed by President Salva Kiir to fight against the virus.

The vice president, the fifth high-level government official to test positive for COVID-19, said he would place himself under quarantine for the next two weeks and carry on with his duties from home.

Abdelbagi urged South Sudan citizens to adhere to the laid-out regulations aimed at curbing further spread of the disease in the country.

"The task-force is working tirelessly to curb the level of spread and transmission. However, the general public must comply with such regulations in order to enable us fight coronavirus effectively," he said.

South Sudan has registered 994 COVID-19 infections and 10 deaths, according to data from the U.S.-based Johns Hopkins University.

The country reported its first case of the disease on April 5, a traveler from Ethiopia.

In response to the outbreak, the South Sudanese government imposed various measures to curb its spread, including the closure of learning institutions, prohibition of unnecessary travel and a ban on public gatherings.

These restrictions have however been eased as the country's economy took a hit.

Source(s): Daily Nation