COVID-19 Meeting: Senior General Addresses 10th Coordination Meeting

Chairman of the State Administration Council Prime Minister of the Provisional Government Senior General Min Aung Hlaing addresses the tenth coordination meeting on COVID-19 prevention, control and treatment activities on Monday in Nay Pyi Taw.

The Senior General stressed that the infection rate of COVID-19 accounted for 40.82 per cent on 23 July and 40.07 per cent on 25 July. Efforts were made to decline a half down of the infection rate in August for the first stage.

On 29 August, 3,166 persons of 29,127 persons were approved as the positive patients in medical examination, accounting for just 10.87 per cent. It was satisfactory for plunging the infection rate into less than 20 per cent the government expected. Such success was based on the cooperation of the people and management of organizations.

Local ethnic people from Kachin, Shan, Kayin and Mon States and Taninthayi Region who did not present reports to authorities about their return to home from China, Laos and Thailand were infected in their native lands.

Officials at different levels need to supervise necessary medical examinations and protection for the returnees from foreign countries in order to plunge the infection rate of COVID-19 in border areas as well as the whole country. 6.5 million units of vaccine have arrived in Myanmar from China till the 29th of August - of them, 2.5 million units were donated and the government 4 million units.

India donated 1.7 million units of vaccine and the government bought 2 million units. Cambodia, Thailand and Viet Nam also donated vaccines. Also, ASEAN pledged to send the medical supplies to Myanmar soon. According to the statements of global countries, vaccinated persons have better immunity than non-vaccinated persons.

As oxygen supply plays a crucial role in treatment, efforts were made to ensure the sufficiency of oxygen in regions and states. Due to restrictions in the outbreak of COVID-19, prices of goods were high due to the increased production costs but dangerous situation on shortages of foods will not happen in Myanmar.

The meeting continued with reports on implementation of home-at-stay programme,  systematic medical examination for those who returned from foreign countries via border gates and preventive measures against infection of variant virus of the disease, arrangements for arrival of about 10 million units of vaccines in September and October, health care for infected health staff and provision of aid for them, creation of contacts with ASEAN countries, neighbouring countries and international community to donate COVID-19 vaccines, related medicines and accessories, vaccination to people from border areas, daily requirement of oxygen, findings of actual infection rate, running of domestic flight, water transport, vehicles and trains, import of anti-COVID-19 medical devices and accessories, health awareness programmes for the public, distribution of masks, hand gel and disposable needles and vaccination programme. In his response to the reports, the Senior General said that research and tests must be conducted for the production of the COVID-19 vaccine.

Health awareness must be raised to avoid careless travelling as the current variant virus causes high and speedy infection with a high death rate. Symptoms of the disease must be disseminated to the people. Only when the infection rate actually declines, the restrictions can be eased.