Health Ministry demands reporting of Arakan travel histories since August 10

By Myat Swe 30 Aug 2020

Mrat Swe | DMG
30 August, Sittwe

In an effort to curb the spread of COVID-19, people have been instructed to promptly report their travel history to local authorities if they have recently been to Sittwe or other townships in Arakan State where coronavirus infections have been reported this month.

A Ministry of Health and Sports statement on August 28 laid out reporting expectations for air travellers who flew to Yangon from Arakan State since August 10, saying those individuals are to undergo medical examinations after first self-reporting to relevant local authorities.

The ministry’s statement said those with relevant travel histories who failed to self-report would have action taken against them under the Natural Disaster Management Law.

According to figures compiled by the Ministry of Health and Sports, a total of 5,425 people took domestic flights to Yangon from Arakan State from August 10-21.

The ministry said that from August 16-28, there were 216 known coronavirus-positive patients living in, or traveling to or from Sittwe, the epicentre of the recent COVID-19 outbreak in Arakan State.

Domestic flights to and from Sittwe have been suspended, and overland travel has faced widespread disruption due to the upsurge in coronavirus cases.

From August 16-30, a total of 334 coronavirus cases were reported in Arakan State. Prior to the recent outbreak, there had been just 16 coronavirus cases in total reported in Arakan State since the pandemic began.

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