Schools that do not observe COVID-19 preventive rules will be immediately shut down, Awut Deng Achuil, the Minister of Education and General Instruction said on Monday.

“Unfortunately, recent visits to some schools revealed that the COVID-19 health measures were not adhered to. School children were not wearing facemasks and there was no water provided for washing of hands,” Achuil said.

“Hence, the National Taskforce for COVID-19 pandemic has directed that any school or schools that fail to observe COVID-19 rule will be immediately closed down.”

She warned that South Sudan was at the verge of contracting the new evolving variant that she said was already in the neighbouring countries.  .

Uganda on Monday shut down all schools, church prayers and public gathering for 42 days due to fear of surge in COVID-19 infections.

Last week, Vice President, Hussen Abdulbagi Ayii Akol ordered for compulsory adherence to all preventive measures, and called on citizens to accept coronavirus vaccine before government introduces access restriction to public institutions without vaccination certificate.

South Sudan reopened schools on May 3, a year later, when the National Taskforce imposed a lockdown on public places, including church service.