Six more COVID-19 cases found in Sittwe, totalling 12 in recent days

By DMG 22 May 2021

DMG Newsroom
22 May 2021, Sittwe

Of the people who returned from Bangladesh to Sittwe on May 21, six men tested positive for COVID-19, according to the Arakan State Public Health Department.

A total of 107 people who returned from Bangladesh with a trade vessel were tested, Dr. Soe Win Paing, assistant director of the department, told DMG.

“Six people tested positive for COVID-19 yesterday,” he said on Saturday. “They are among 107 people who returned to Sittwe with a border trade vessel. As far as I know, their health is good with no sign of the disease. Currently, they have been provided treatment at Sittwe Hospital. People have to learn to live with the new normal; not going out without reason, staying at least 6 feet away from people and washing hands. There is no plan so far to issue restrictions like the second wave period of COVID-19.”

Four COVID-19 cases were found among 40 people who returned from Bangladesh and were tested at the Shwe Min Gan border trade centre in Sittwe Township on May 12, and one more case was found on May 14.

Another COVID-19 case was found on May 18 when 78 people returning from Bangladesh were tested.

With Friday’s testing, a total of 12 coronavirus cases have been reported in Sittwe Township among people returning from Bangladesh this month.

Although several positive cases have been reported in recent days, there is no plan to shut down the border trade thus far; however, returnees must be quarantined and tested once they arrive, according to the Arakan State Administration Council.

A total of 4,264 cases were found in Arakan State during the first and second waves of COVID-19, with 37 deaths reported.