Swabs awaiting COVID-19 testing to be flown from Arakan State to Yangon

By Myat Swe 21 Apr 2020

Myat Swe | DMG
April 21, Sittwe

A batch of swabs from people undergoing medical monitoring in Arakan State will be flown to Yangon on April 23, days after a World Health Organization (WHO) vehicle transporting the samples to the commercial capital for testing was attacked, according to the Arakan State Public Health Department.

The WHO vehicle, which was carrying swabs from people suspected of COVID-19 infection to the National Health Laboratory in Yangon, was attacked on April 20 in Arakan State’s Minbya Township.

WHO employee U Pyay Sone Win Maung was fatally wounded in Monday’s shooting, and another member of the WHO team who was in the vehicle was injured.

Dr. Soe Win Paing from the Arakan State Public Health Department said that due to the attack on the WHO vehicle, health officials had arranged to fly the swabs to Yangon, with only staff from the health department, other governmental personnel and cabin crew on board the plane.

All commercial flights between Sittwe and Yangon have been cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

“The swabs should have been sent on April 20. But it is a bit late now because we have arranged to send them on April 23,” Dr. Soe Win Paing said.

State-run newspapers reported that the Arakan Army launched the attack on the WHO vehicle, but the AA denied the accusation and stated that the Tatmadaw was responsible.

As of 8 p.m. on April 21, Myanmar had recorded 121 coronavirus-positive cases nationwide, with five people dead.