First Vice President Dr. Riek Machar and his wife Angelina Teny have reportedly flown out of the country to seek treatment in a foreign country for coronavirus.

The two were among more than 10 senior government officials who were early this week confirmed to be among 563 South Sudanese who have contracted the virus that has brought the entire world to its knees.

Reports of Dr. Machar and Angelina, who is also the Minister of Defence, having left the country began doing the rounds when a photo of UN ambulance that had stopped next to a private jet at Juba International Airport circulated on social media yesterday.

According to media reports, the couple flew to Kenya capital Nairobi Thursday for specialized treatment. A flight to Kenya, one of the countries in East Africa badly affected by the virus, looked unlikely as the country has not lifted lockdown measures which also restrict international flights.

In addition, hospitals in Kenya cannot also cope with the high numbers of people seeking treatment for the disease.

Nairobi is a possible destination where a number of senior South Sudan government officials have friends and relatives who can facilitate such emergency travel.

Against this background, The City Review Weekly called Vice President’s Press Secretary James Gatdet to shed light on the status of the couple but the phone went unanswered.

Earlier, Mr. Gatdet told a section of the media: “They are currently in their residence in Juba where they have self-quarantined after testing positive for Covid-19 on May 18, 2020.”

“Both are also in good health and may soon resume their normal official work after 14 days on the advice of the doctors.”

On May 20, 2020 South Sudan confirmed more 82 cases raising the confirmed cases to 563, with 6 deaths and 6 recoveries.