COVID-19 Update: Who Sea Regional Director Called On Aggressive Measures

The World Health Organization on 17th March called on member States in South-East Asia Region to urgently scale-up aggressive measures to combat COVID-19.

Eight of the 11 countries of WHO South-East Asia Region have more than 500 confirmed cases of COVID-19, and the disease claims nine lives as of 17th March.

According to the WHO, there are over 184,000 confirmed cases in 159 countries across the world with more than 7,500 deaths as of 11:30 AM MST on Wednesday.

In Myanmar, there was no confirmed cases of COVID-19 as of 17th March, according to the Ministry of Health and Sports. From 31st January to 17th March, there were 142 Persons Under Investigation-PUI and 2 suspected patients, altogether 144. Out of them, 135 patients were tested negative with COVID-19 disease and 9 are still pending. 96 have been discharged from the hospitals.

As a measure to respond the COVID-19, the Government instructed to halt mass gatherings, close down all the summer classes, pre-schools and cinemas till April 30th.