South Sudan, China join hands to enhance preventive measures against Coronavirus

JUBA, Feb. 28 (Xinhua) -- The Chinese embassy in South Sudan and the country's ministry of health have joined ranks to strengthen preventative measures against the novel coronavirus or the COVID-19.

Hua Ning, the Chinese ambassador in Juba said though there is currently no confirmed case of the COVID-19 in South Sudan, the embassy is working with the South Sudanese government and the World Health Organization (WHO) to boost screening and quarantine measures.

"The Chinese embassy has established a working mechanism with the South Sudanese government and the WHO and maintained hotline contact," the Chinese envoy told reporters in Juba on Friday.

The government has also developed a guideline which requires people who recently visited China and other countries affected by the virus to be isolated from the public for 14 days.

"We have issued notices several times to remind Chinese citizens in South Sudan and ask them to cooperate with the relevant authorities of South Sudan in screening, quarantine and other entry inspection and quarantine measures," Hua said.

The Chinese envoy also hailed the South Sudanese government and people for standing with China during the battle against the epidemic.

"There are also many people from all walks of life in South Sudan expressing their support for China's fight against the epidemic in various ways and are full of confidence in China's capability to win a final victory over the epidemic," Hua said.

"I want to thank the government and people of South Sudan for their firm support during the difficult times in China."

Hua revealed that China's epidemic prevention and control measures have produced positive results and over the past two weeks, daily reported confirmed cases have fallen by 80 percent.

The Chinese envoy also assured the people of South Sudan that the 27 South Sudanese students in Hubei, 24 of whom in Wuhan city are all healthy and safe.

"The Chinese government and relevant local authorities have taken careful measures to protect the life and safety of international students," Hua stressed.

"The first is to establish an epidemic prevention working group for foreign students, strengthen management, and establish a daily reporting system to prevent the epidemic from spreading to international student groups. The second is to protect the daily lives of international students," he added.