Regime threatens action against Covid-19 regulations violators

By DMG 02 Mar 2022

DMG Newsroom
2 March 2022, Sittwe

In response to a steady rise in coronavirus infections in Arakan State, action will be taken against those who violate Covid-19 regulations, U Oo Hla Thein, spokesman for the military regime’s Arakan State governing body, told DMG.

In Myebon Township, authorities reportedly carried out checks in public places on February 26, and warned more than 200 people who failed to wear face masks, recording their names as first-time violators.

Legal action will be taken against repeat offenders under the Disaster Management Law, said U Oo Hla Thein, who is also the attorney-general for Arakan State.

“We have documented those who did not wear face masks. If we find the same people not wearing masks again, we will take legal action against them under the Covid-19 regulations. We have been conducting a wear-a-mask campaign in all the townships [across Arakan State],” said U Oo Hla Thein.

The regime is not doing enough to contain the coronavirus pandemic in Arakan State, said Myebon resident Ko Moe Min, adding that local residents are barely following Covid-19 regulations.

“I saw their mask campaign that day. The regime has not been able to take effective preventative measures. And people are not following Covid-19 regulations,” he said.

The chairman of Rakhine Covid Watch, Ko Tun Hlaing, has urged local people to use caution as Covid-19 cases have been reported daily in Arakan State.

“The numbers may increase or decrease from day to day, but cases are normally reported daily,” he said.

A total of 5,788 Covid-19 cases were recorded in Arakan State from May 25, 2021, to February 27, 2022, with 501 deaths and 5,106 recoveries, according to the Arakan State military council.