Doctor at hospital in Covid hot spot Maungdaw tests positive for virus 

By DMG 12 Jul 2021

DMG Newsroom
12 July 2021, Maungdaw 

A doctor was among four people who tested positive for Covid-19 on July 11 in Maungdaw Township, Arakan State, according to the Maungdaw District Health Department. 

The doctor lives in the Maungdaw District General Hospital compound, the department said. 

Maungdaw Township has emerged as a coronavirus hot spot during the ongoing third wave of the pandemic, with the township reported to have the highest infection rate and most virus-related fatalities in Arakan State.  

Border Guard Force (BGF) members who transferred to Maungdaw District late last month account for a significant cluster of the Covid-19 infections.  

Dr. Nu Kay Thi San, superintendent of Maungdaw District General Hospital, said: “During the third wave of Covid-19, most coronavirus-positive patients are members of the BGF who transferred from outside Arakan State.” 

The number of third wave Covid-19 cases in Maungdaw District exceeds 300 and the death toll reached five in recent days, with five patients currently in critical condition. 

Maungdaw District is made up of Maungdaw and Buthidaung townships. 

“There are five patients with severe disease at the district hospital,” Dr. Nu Kaythi San said. 

In Buthidaung Township, 74 people had tested positive for coronavirus as of July 12, with 50 of them having since been discharged from hospital. 

Dr. Saw Min Thein, medical superintendent of the township hospital, said that people in Buthidaung Township were required to sign a pledge to wear masks when going outside due to the increasing number of people infected with the deadly virus. 

“To date, 74 cases of Covid-19 have been reported in Buthidaung Township. Three of the virus positive patients are two prisoners from Maungdaw Township and a civilian who was hospitalised after a long illness. They all were transferred to Maungdaw District People’s Hospital,” Dr. Saw Min Thein told DMG. “Fifty recovered patients have been discharged from the hospital and 22 people are currently being treated.” 

A large portion of Buthidaung Township’s case count has been traced to the BGF contingent that arrived in the township via boat on June 29. Two of the BGF members tested positive for coronavirus on June 30, and 48 out of 144 people who came in contact with the two virus-positive BGF members were diagnosed with Covid-19 on July 1.