Meeting on COVID-19: SAC Chairman gave necessary guidelines at the meeting

State Administration Council Chairman Prime Minister Senior General Min Aung Hlaing addresses the 13th meeting on the COVID-19 prevention, control and treatment held at Bayintnaung Villa in Nay Pyi Taw on 28 October 2021.

In his address related to prevention, control and treatment activities of the COVID-19, the Senior General said that the vice-chairman led the supervision for the preventive measures and the government effectively carried out the tasks on a daily basis. On the other hand, the people emphasized preventive measures. They abided by the health restrictions and helped provide requirements such as medicines, protective equipment and oxygen.

Well-wishers bought the inputs from abroad. Their efforts remarkably reflected the work process. The infection rate of the disease was down to more than four per cent. As the infection rate declines, some townships were removed from the list of stayat-home programmes and staff members are allowed to offices as usual.

As part of efforts to open schools, students aged 12 and above are vaccinated. It is necessary to consider the resumption of operations at suspended education and production machinery as well as the transport machinery under the limit at a time when the infection rate declines. Moreover, the Senior General stressed the need to consider the measures not to infect the people more and the production of the COVID-19 vaccine at home without fail.

The government purchase vaccines from China selling it. If China does not supply it, country cannot reach this situation of controlling the disease. So, thanks are to be expressed to China for the supply of the vaccines to Myanmar in time.

Then, the meeting participants discussed easing the townships from the list of stayat-home programmes, plan to allow holding of festivities, allowing of travelling, running of international flights in the country, serving the office tasks with full strengths, installation of RT-PCR machines in border towns, preparation for control of the fourth wave, research to produce the COVID-19 vaccine with the use of traditional medicines, raising health awareness of the disease via newspapers, TV channels and radios, vaccinations for target groups, production of vaccines from China and Russia in Myanmar through ready to fill, resumption of aviation, marine and road transport services, vaccinations for students from universities, and inspection of infection in townships under the spot check. In his response to the reports, the Senior General said if efforts can be made to reduce the infection rate in border regions rather than now, trade flow will be swift and businesses smooth.

Hence, vaccines must be sent to border areas to control the infection rate. Preparations must be made for prevention and control of the fourth wave of the pandemic, deployment of health staff, oxygen and hospital equipment. In his conclusion, the Senior General said that figures on infection of the disease must be accurate to be able to correctly analyze the control and prevention of the disease. The vaccination must cover the areas of EAOs, border areas and ethnic nationals while raising health awareness of COVID-19 and other diseases.