Corona prevention and preparedness in South Sudan In December 2019, the world saw the emergency of a virus that causes pneumonia in humans, which has a high probability of resulting in complications that include acute respiratory distress syndrome and death in an estimated 0.2% to 5% of cases. Corona virus disease 2019 (COVID-2019) is caused by a virus endemic in wild animals that has adapted itself to infect humans. The world health Organization (WHO) declared the 2019 outbreak of the novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV), which is now officially named SARS-CoV-2, a global health emergency on 20th Jan 2020. Currently there is no effective antivirals against the virus. The virus is genetically similar to the 2003 Severe acute respiratory syndrome – related coronavirus (SARS) and shares many disease features with influenza virus infections. The COVID-19 virus is a novel (new) coronavirus first identified in Wuhan, China. Since its discovery, its geographic distribution continues to evolve. Cases have been reported in more than 100 countries, sustained person-to-person transmission is now suspected in several countries in addition to China

Globally, 339,710 cases with 14704 deaths and 99014 recovered cases have been reported and these figures keep changing daily due to the rapid spread associated with the virus. In Africa, 739 confirmed cases with 20 deaths already report (WHO sitrep #62).
Regionally, South Sudan remains the only country in the sub-Saharan east Africa without confirmed case of COVID-19 virus. All the countries that neighbour South Sudan has confirmed cases of COVID-19. To-date Uganda has already confirmed Nine cases, Kenya has 16 confirmed cases, Ethiopia with 9 confirmed cases, DRC with 23 cases, Sudan has reported one confirmed case and in all the countries mentioned, incidence rates keep soaring up each and every day. South Sudan remains fragile and it is just a matter of when not if before a case is confirmed in the nation. Due to travel, trade and social linkages, the potential risk of importing the virus to South Sudan remains very high and likely and it is almost inevitable that it will reach South Sudan.

South Sudan is already facing food insecurity, high malnutrition rates and poor health care services. With already the dire state of the country, the virus will cause more devastation if it spreads to the nation. As a measure to prevent the epidemic, the government of South Sudan put up measures however, these measures may not be adhered by the local population because of limited information and awareness about the disease. As result, we propose to build on our extensive hygiene promotion activities to raise awareness and sensitize the people of South Sudan on preventative measures against the spread and control of the epidemic to stop any incidence of the epidemic from occurring and or minimize/reduce the prevalence when identified in South Sudan. The project will integrate risk communication messaging and health promotion among the South Sudanese on COVID 19 and support health system in infection prevention and control mechanism aimed at preventive the causative agent of COVID 19 and also support MoH to undertake health education and awareness including supporting integrated disease surveillance and reporting for Covid 19 Health workers,All men, women and children living in high risk areas  and are exposed to COVID-19 risks