Arakan health officials stress preventive measures as Covid caseload nears 1,000

By DMG 14 Jul 2021

DMG Newsroom
14 July 2021, Sittwe 

The number of Covid-19 cases in Arakan State during the ongoing third wave of the pandemic neared 1,000 on Tuesday as health officials and civil society voiced concerns about lax adherence to preventive regulations among members of the public. 

Total coronavirus cases statewide reached 996 and the death toll rose to 17 on July 13, according to the state’s Department of Public Health. 

They are spread across 15 of Arakan State’s 17 townships, said Dr. Soe Win Paing, assistant director of the department.  

 “Out of 996 coronavirus-infected patients, 396 have been discharged from hospitals according to the figures through July 13,” he said on July 14. 

Dr. Soe Win Paing urged the public to follow the regulations imposed by the Ministry of Health and Sports to prevent the spread of Covid-19, such as not assembling in groups of more than 50 people; not going outside for non-essential reasons; maintaining a social distance of at least six feet; wearing a face mask when outside the home; and washing hands frequently. 

But lacklustre and selective compliance remains a concern.  

Ko Zaw Zaw Tun, secretary of the Rakhine Ethnics Congress, told DMG that people in the Arakan State capital Sittwe do a good job of wearing masks outside their homes, but are weak to follow the regulations against crowds and mandating that food be sold for takeaway only. 

“There is no compliance with the Covid rules in bars and restaurants. I think the departments should implement more effective supervision,” he said. 

In Maungdaw Township, which has the highest Covid case count in Arakan State, there is much room for improvement when it comes to following preventive measures, acknowledged Dr. Nu Kaythi San, medical superintendent of Maungdaw District General Hospital. 

“At present, I think the people in Maungdaw District are still very unregulated about the virus. People are going without masks. And when the health workers come, people pick up the mask and wear it. I don’t think the people are aware of the need to protect themselves against coronavirus,” she told DMG on Tuesday. 

The situation is similar for locals in Thandwe Township, where at least six people have died of Covid-19, said Ashin Saykeinda, abbot of Theingon Monastery. 

“Some people still see the disease as a political ploy. Recently, some people have been wearing masks, but they have not paid much attention to the deadly virus,” the monk said on July 13. 

There are almost no people wearing masks in Mrauk-U, the ancient capital of the Arakan Kingdom, and no action has been taken yet by concerned departments, said Ko Khaing Min Shin, chairman of the Mrauk-U Youth Association. 

“Only 1% of people wear masks in Mrauk-U. The rest go out as usual and restaurants are open as usual. The Health Department has not taken any action against those who do not wear masks,” he claimed. 

Since Myanmar’s first case was reported in March 2020, the country had recorded 201,274 total Covid-19 infections as of July 13, with 4,036 deaths, according to the Ministry of Health and Sports.