Myanmar’s coronavirus-related deaths rising alongside cases this month

By DMG 24 Sep 2022

DMG Newsroom
24 September 2022, Sittwe

Myanmar recorded 10 coronavirus-related deaths from September 1 to 23, according to the junta-controlled Ministry of Health.

Covid-19 cases have been climbing this month, and coronavirus-related deaths — a rare occurrence in the preceding months — are rising commensurately, according to health officials.

“People should get Covid-19 shots [vaccines] as it can reduce the severity of symptoms, and wear masks in public,” Dr. Than Naing Soe, director of the Health Department, told DMG. “In Arakan State, people should always wear masks on ferries. It is best to receive booster shots after receiving a second dose of the Covid-19 vaccination.”

Nationwide, 300 new Covid-19 cases were recorded on Friday, according to the Health Ministry. Most people who die of Covid-19 have underlying health problems, the ministry added, urging those with high blood pressure, diabetes, heart, kidney, liver, and lung problems, and cancer to receive full doses of the vaccine as well as booster shots as eligible.

“When a person is infected, healthy people will have some flu-like symptoms. Some do not demonstrate symptoms at all. But people with underlying conditions, if they are not vaccinated against coronavirus, can have severe symptoms that can even result in death,” said Dr. Zaw Zaw Aung, deputy director of the Arakan State Health Department.

As the presence of coronavirus variants has been reported across Myanmar, people of eligible age should make sure they are fully vaccinated against Covid-19, health officials suggest.

Since the Covid-19 outbreak first began in March 2020, Myanmar had recorded 620,744 Covid-19 cases with 19,453 fatalities as of September 23, 2022, according to the Health Ministry.