Arakan State undertakes prevention efforts as Bangladesh detects presence of Lambda variant

By DMG 24 Aug 2021

DMG Newsroom
24 August 2021, Sittwe 

Responsible people have been instructed to make careful checks on illegal entrance and exit along the border with Bangladesh as Bangladesh has detected the presence of the Lambda variant of Covid-19, said U Hla Thein, chair of the Arakan State military council’s information team. 

He said because the Lambda variant is highly infectious, they have carried out efforts not to allow its spread in Arakan State. 

“We’ve heard that the Lambda variant has been detected in Bangladesh. It is also known that this variant shows no symptoms, is highly infectious and more dangerous. So, we have to keep monitoring to reopen border trade,” said U Hla Thein. 

Dr. Soe Win Paing, assistant director of the state’s Department of Public Health, urged people to stay in line with Covid-19 restrictions not to be infected as a new variant has been detected in Bangladesh. 

“It has the respiratory disease symptoms of Covid-19. So, it is necessary to get vaccinated and abide by Covid-19 restrictions like avoiding public gatherings,” he said. 

During the third wave of Covid-19, the number of confirmed cases in Arakan State was 3,830 with 367 deaths and 323 people hospitalised as of August 23, according to the state’s Department of Public Health.