Covid cases in Arakan down, but virus continues to infect: state health department

By DMG 14 Sep 2021

DMG Newsroom
14 September 2021, Sittwe 

The Covid-19 positivity rate in Arakan State has fallen to 12% but people must continue to adhere to virus preventive regulations as new infections remain a daily occurrence, according to Dr. Soe Win Paing, assistant director of the state’s Department of Public Health. 

At the height of the pandemic’s third wave in late July, the positive test rate was 58%, the doctor added. 

“We must say the Covid-19 positivity rate is decreasing. But people should not be careless. They need to follow regulations of Covid-19 prevention as infections are still occurring,” he told DMG. 

The infection rate in Arakan State has been decreasing since its recorded peak at the end of July, according to the state’s Public Health Department. 

But health officials have warned against complacency as new cases — and related deaths — continue to plague western Myanmar, as is the case across much of the country. 

As of September 12, a total of 427 deaths were reported in Arakan State during the ongoing third wave, according to the state’s military council: 71 from Sittwe; 63 from Taungup; 53 from Kyaukphyu; 36 from Thandwe; 28 from Kyauktaw; 26 from Gwa; 20 from both Maungdaw and Ann; 19 from Mrauk-U; 18 from Ponnagyun; 17 from Minbya; 14 from Manaung; 13 from Pauktaw; 11 from Rathedaung; nine from Ramree; seven from Buthidaung; and two from Myebon. 

Dr. Khin Khin Gyi, director of the Public Health Awareness Division of the Department of Public Health under the Ministry of Health, recently told DMG that the Covid-19 positivity rate in Myanmar is now under 10%. 

Following detection of the highly contagious Delta variant in Myanmar, authorities Sittwe began more stringently enforcing a mask mandate, as well as conducting random testing on pedestrians and motorists in the Arakan State capital.  

More than 4,500 positive cases of coronavirus have been reported in Arakan State during the pandemic’s ongoing third wave.  

Since the first Covid infection was recorded in March 2020, the countrywide caseload was 434,106 as of September 13, with the death toll at 16,617, according to the junta’s Ministry of Health.