More restrictions coming as COVID-19 claims 24th life in Arakan State

By Kyaw Thu Htay 14 Nov 2020

Kyaw Thu Htay | DMG
14 November 2020, Sittwe

Twenty-four people have died in Arakan State due to COVID-19, and more restrictions will be put in place to control the spread of the virus, said Dr. Soe Win Paing, assistant director of the Arakan State Public Health Department.

The decision to tighten restrictions followed a coordination meeting of the state-level COVID-19 Control and Emergency Response Committee at the Arakan State government offices in Sittwe on November 13, he said.

“The disease rate has not dropped since [an outbreak] was first discovered in August. It is slowing down a little. Gatherings have been made. We will enact more regulatory measures to control the disease,” Dr. Soe Win Paing said.

A COVID-19 patient died at Maungdaw District Hospital on November 13, according to the Arakan State Health Department.

The deceased was a 62-year-old Muslim man who was hospitalised on November 9 and passed away on November 13, according to Dr. Nu Kay Thi San, assistant director of the Maungdaw District Public Health Department.

“He came to the hospital on November 9. He had diabetes, high blood pressure and liver cirrhosis. He died at 12 o’clock yesterday [November 13],” said Dr. Nu Kay Thi San.

On November 3, a 70-year-old woman who had tested positive for COVID-19 was Maungdaw District Hospital’s first recorded fatality due to the disease.

Statewide, the number of coronavirus-related deaths rose to 24 as a result of the latest fatality — six patients from Sittwe Hospital; two from Kyaukphyu District Hospital; two from Maungdaw District Hospital; one from Buthidaung Hospital; two from Mrauk-U Hospital; seven from Kyauktaw Hospital; three from Pauktaw Hospital; and one from Minbya Hospital.

“We will enforce the restrictions, such as arresting if there are those travelling outside without outpass cards and without wearing masks,” said Dr. Soe Win Paing.

There were 3,177 COVID-19 infections in Arakan State as of Saturday afternoon and 2,914 had been discharged after recovery. There are 263 COVID-19 patients currently receiving treatment in respective township hospitals.

In order to control the disease’s spread, last month there were arrests and K10,000 fines levied as punishment for travelling without an outpass card issued by respective ward administrators in Sittwe Township.