Sittwe authorities to further restrict movement, warn of legal action against violators

By Khin Tharaphy Oo 02 Oct 2020

Khin Tharaphy Oo | DMG
2 October 2020, Sittwe 

Authorities in the Arakan State capital Sittwe have warned that as of the second week in October, legal action will be taken against anyone found outside of their home without special “permission cards” that will be issued to each household in the coming days. 

Under the COVID-19 stay-at-home orders in effect across Arakan State since mid-August, only one person per household is allowed to shop for groceries and only two people per household are permitted to leave the house for medical treatment. 

Permission cards are scheduled to be issued on October 6 and those who go outside without this official documentation will be fined K10,000 from October 7-14. As of October 15, legal action will be taken against violators under the Natural Disaster Management Law, according to Sittwe Township administrator U Aung Zaw Oo. 

Authorities will form three teams that will be tasked with patrolling the township to ensure compliance. 

One permission card will be issued per household, and the card can only be used for grocery shopping, said U Aung Zaw Oo. 

“Only one permission card will be given per household. But this does not mean cardholders can go any place. And the card cannot be transferred to other households. Those who want to go out for medical treatment must be able to show their medical record book,” he added. 

Corporate employees can go out with their employee IDs during office hours, while odd-job workers and vendors have to apply for approval from their respective ward administration, he said. 

The permission card measure is being introduced at the suggestion of the government, and will be in place until the pandemic is under control. 

As of October 1, Arakan State had reported 1,539 COVID-19 cases with four deaths and 1,100 recoveries, according to the Ministry of Health and Sports.