15 healthcare staff from six Arakan State townships infected with Covid-19

By DMG 13 Jul 2021

DMG Newsroom
13 July 2021, Sittwe 

Fifteen out of 856 Covid-19 cases recorded in Arakan State as of July 12 are healthcare personnel from six different townships, according to Dr. Soe Win Paing, assistant director of the Arakan State Department of Public Health. 

Broken down by township, the infected are six healthcare workers from Maungdaw, four from Ann, two from Kyauktaw and one each from Sittwe, Myebon and Pauktaw, the department said. 

“They are doctors, nurses, and health supervisors,” Dr. Soe Win Paing told DMG. 

Medical services in Arakan State continue to be provided by the remaining healthcare personnel while the 15 coronavirus-positive staff are allowed to recover, he said. 

“Staff members are assigned [proportionately] according to the size of the township. Now we are providing healthcare services with the staff we have,” he added. 

The infected healthcare personnel contracted the virus due to close contact with Covid-19 patients, he said. 

A healthcare worker from Kyaukphyu Township said: “I am worried that my family will be infected with coronavirus through me. So, I do not live at home and stay in the dormitory at the hospital.” 

During the first and second waves of Covid-19, there were many volunteers helping to combat the virus alongside healthcare personnel, but the ranks of both are thinner during the ongoing third wave, officials from the Arakan State health department have said.  

Myanmar’s healthcare system has been stretched to the breaking point as Covid-19 infections rise to unprecedented highs amid a civil disobedience movement (CDM) in protest of the military regime and its February 1 coup. The CMD has included many hospital staff across the country who have refused to work for the junta. 

Since the third wave of the pandemic began some two months ago, there were 16 deaths attributed to Covid-19 statewide, 190 recovered and 726 still being provided medical treatment as of July 12.