COVID-19 awareness campaign in Sittwe Twsp seeks to ward off virus complacency

By Kyaw Thu Htay 19 Dec 2020

Kyaw Thu Htay | DMG
19 December 2020, Sittwe  

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the Rakhine Ethnics Congress (REC) have jointly organised a COVID-19 public awareness campaign in villages near the Arakan State capital Sittwe to warn residents of the risk the deadly virus continues to pose in the state, said the REC. 

Soap and face masks were provided to 5,000 households from villages such as Setyoekya, Shwe Pyi Thar, Kyaung Gyi Lan, Magyi Myine and Bumay, in Sittwe Township. 

U Zaw Zaw Tun, secretary of the REC, said people were tending to return to gatherings as the rainy season was over, so the purpose of the five-day awareness campaign was to remind people that the virus’s spread was not under control. 

“We encourage people to wear masks outside of their homes and to avoid gatherings and crowded events. If they disregard the health regulations to prevent COVID-19 infection, the number of cases will increase in the state because the virus is still spreading,” he said. 

The Ministry of Health and Sports has urged people to stay home as much as possible to curb the spread of the virus, but livelihood pressures have required many to return to work, or face financial strain or ruin.  

U Zaw Zaw Tun said the government needed to help people face the pandemic’s challenges so that they could adhere to health regulations. 

“If shops are closed under stay-at-home orders, people will face financial difficulties. So, the government needs to arrange plans to provide help for people to ensure that people comply with health regulations,” he said. 

A COVID-19 outbreak in Sittwe began in mid-August. The virus’s transmission rate is said to have peaked and fallen, but U Zaw Zaw Tun warned that infection rates could rise again if public health regulations are not followed.

 The Sittwe Township Management Committee on December 15 instructed residents to stay at home, and said people can travel if they have permission from the relevant township and ward administrators. 

COVID-19 fatalities in Arakan State now total 34, with the death toll in Sittwe accounting for half of the statewide total as of December 19, according to a COVID-19 observation group in Arakan State.