Health official urges Arakan public to continue to heed virus-related rules as infections slow

By DMG 16 Aug 2021

DMG Newsroom
16 August 2021, Sittwe 

Dr. Soe Win Paing, assistant director of the Arakan State Department of Public Health, has urged the public not to be complacent about coronavirus-related regulations despite a drop in the infection rate and related death toll in the state over recent days. 

“During this month, the virus infection rate and fatalities from Covid-19 decreased slightly. However, the public should not be complacent about the Covid-19-related rules as the virus’s third wave has not disappeared,” Dr. Soe Win Paing told DMG. 

U Than Win, deputy staff officer of the Taungup Township Information and Public Relations Department, confirmed that Covid-19 metrics were trending in a positive direction there. 

“The number of people infected with Covid-19 in Taungup Township has also decreased. Only one person is infected with the virus each day. We see that it is many times less than before,” he said of Taungup, which has had the second highest fatality count among Arakan State’s 17 townships during the pandemic’s ongoing third wave. 

A total of 333 confirmed deaths from Covid-19 were reported in Arakan State in the approximately three months from May 12 to August 15, according to figures from the Department of Public Health. 

Third wave Covid-19 cases have been recorded across all 17 Arakan State townships, with 87 related deaths in Sittwe; 17 in Maungdaw; 30 in Thandwe; 64 in Taungup; four in Buthidaung; 16 in Kyauktaw; 10 each in Minbya and Pauktaw; 14 in Gwa; 27 in Kyaukphyu; six in Ramree; seven each in Ponnagyun and Rathedaung; 11 each in Ann and Manaung; and 12 in Mrauk-U. 

Arakan State Minister for Natural Resources U Than Tun told DMG that the local government is taking strict action against those who do not follow Covid-19 regulations. 

“Virus infections have been declining, but they have not disappeared. People still have to follow the virus rules because it is still dangerous. We are conducting public awareness and taking action against those who do not abide by the Covid-19-related regulations,” the minister added. 

The United League of Arakan (ULA) declared an initial stay-at-home period for Arakan State from July 24 to August 4, subsequently extending the order through August 18 due to ongoing Covid-19 fatalities and infections. 

As of August 15, a total of 3,573 coronavirus cases and 333 deaths were reported in Arakan State during the pandemic’s third wave, according to the state’s Department of Public Health.