Lakes and Eastern Equatoria state governments have boosted security and the implementation of the COVID-19 restrictions to contain the virus and crimes during the Christmas festive season.

The Minister of Information and Communication for Eastern equatorial State, Patrick Oting, said the state government was ready to celebrate Christmas with strict adherence to COVID-19 preventive measures.

He said it was going to be a colourful celebration in Torit as the majority of the government officials including the governor are celebrating Christmas within the county.

Oting stressed that most of the state’s government officials have not travelled to their respective constituencies.

“We have arranged for maximum security in the state and we have deployed security personnel in most of the roads, including the highway, and we have many who will be patrolling around Torit and other towns during all these days,” Oting said. 

“Whatever comes from the national task force for coronavirus, especially from the Vice President; we are going to implement it fully as the state government,” he added.

Meanwhile, in Lakes State, the Police Spokesperson of Maj. Elijah Mabor said has said the Lakes State government has taken the necessary measures and mobilised a good number of security forces who will be patrolling the town and other counties during the Christmas festive season.

He said the forces have been given the order to be on the lookout for drunkards, who always want to be the source of conflict in any gatherings.

“We have a police unit in place to monitor the situation during Christmas and they were given the directive to adhere to the coronavirus measures imposed by the national task force,” Maj. Mabor said.  

“I know the state government is going to implement the same thing as the organized forces.”