April 19, 2020 (Nyamilepedia) — The United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) on Sunday refuted a government report that it aided one of its members to sneak out of the country to evade a COVID-19 quarantine in Juba.
The Taskforce said on Friday that the UNMISS had sneaked – out of the country – one of its members who was under COVID-19 quarantine.
The unidentified UN staffer is one of ninety-nine (99) people who had contact with another UN staffer who tested positive for coronavirus early this month, according to the High-Level Taskforce.
However, in a statement on Sunday, the UNMISS refuted the Taskforce report and said it was not aware of the person’s departure and that the staff member fled the country aboard a commercial flight and not a UN plane.
“The flight was commercial, not a United Nations flight. Since arriving in his home country, he has been tested again and is confirmed to be negative for COVID-19,” the UN statement seen by Nyamilepedia said.
“In the interests of openness and transparency, the United Nations informed the Ministry of Health and expressed its regret about what had happened,” it added.
The statement added that the UN is “continuing to strictly follow the health protocols relating to COVID-19 and is working cooperatively through the World Health Organization with the Ministry of Health.”
The United Nations said in the statement that it was taking disciplinary measures against the staff member who failed to complete self-isolation, warning that any UN staff who fail to adhere to the requirements for testing and self-isolation will face disciplinary action.
“It is vital that all of us-whether UN or members of South Sudanese communities-work together to reduce the risk of COVID-19.”
