The Episcopal Church of South Sudan urged its congregation to stay away from churches and pray at home.

This comes as the world’s youngest country tightens restrictive measures to prevent the spread of coronavirus.

South Sudan banned social gatherings to ensure social distancing.

The Episcopal Church, which was reluctant to stop church services a week ago, now urged Christians to observe the restrictions and pray at home.

 “On Sundays, all Christians should remain at home and pray at home with their own families until we get directives from the government that it is safe to congregate again,” Justin Badi Arama, Primate of the Episcopal Church of South Sudan, said in a statement Monday.

He added, “All Church schools and colleges are to be immediately closed until further notice.”

 The religious leader urged Christians to follow the guidance of health officials and the government in response to the coronavirus pandemic.

South Sudan which has not yet registered any case of coronavirus is stepping up its efforts to prevent the new coronavirus pandemic.

Key symptoms of coronavirus include dry cough, shortness of breath and fever.

A person can also get infected with coronavirus by touching a surface or object that has the virus on it and then touching their own mouth, nose, or their eyes.

People are being advised by health officials to observe high standards of hygiene and limit unnecessary human contact.

More than 16,700 people globally have died from COVID-19, as the illness is officially known, while more than 387,000 infections have been confirmed in at least 177 countries and territories.