The Western Bahr el Ghazal State government has ordered all the constitutional post holders and other key government officials to have mandatory COVID-19 tests and vaccinations.

The directives came after Thursday’s extraordinary Council of Ministers’ meeting in the capital, Wau.

Speaking to the media after the sitting, Dr Vincent Taban Joseph, the Western Bahr el Ghazal State Minister of Health, said due to the high trend of COVID-19 infections in the state, the governor directed all the cabinet members to have compulsory testing and vaccinations.

“In today’s extraordinary Council of Ministers meeting, whose main objective was a briefing from Governor Sarah Cleto regarding the high trend of COVID-19 infections, which was detected in the state two days ago, Governor Cleto ordered us as constitutional post holders to go for vaccinations,” Dr Taban said.

He said two days ago, 10 cases were confirmed out of the 38 samples taken for screening on a single day, adding the situation is worrying about the state.

Taban revealed that this prompted Cleto’s directive.

According to the health minister, anyone who is not fully vaccinated will be banned from entering government institutions or attending the council of ministers meetings and public events in the state.

He said Governor Cleto had advised the key players in those events to have regular testing to know their status.

The governor also directed the respective ministries to know their health status and strongly advocated for all staff to go for COVID-19 vaccinations.