South Sudan recorded 156 new COVID-19 cases with two additional fresh deaths in the past 24 hours.

This means that the country’s caseload now shoots to 4,960 and total number of recoveries goes to 3,729. The cumulative death toll now shoots to 71. The statement by the COVID Incident Manager of the Ministry of Health Richard Lako also reveals that the country has now tested 95,225 people since the outbreak of the disease last year.

The cases that are currently under follow-up are 1,160, while contacts who are still being reached are 478.

Earlier this week, World Health Organization (WHO) identified South Sudan as one of the 10 countries registering over 30 per cent in the surge of the virus.

The increased infections coming with the second wave forced the National Taskforce on COVID-19 to enforce a partial lockdown last week to target the hotspots of the virus. But on Wednesday, the taskforce allowed the South Sudan Football Association (SSFA) to proceed with the preparations for the upcoming fixtures, among them, Africa Nations Cup qualifier.