CSOs urge authorities to pay heed amid concern over rising virus infections in Arakan State

By DMG 17 Dec 2021

DMG Newsroom
17 December 2021, Sittwe 

Civil society organisations are urging authorities to pay attention to rising Covid-19 infections in Arakan State. 

Up to 37 cases of Covid-19 were reported in Arakan State between November 30 and December 16, including border traders and air travellers, according to data released by Arakan State Covid-19 Watch. 

Saw San Nyein Thu, chairwoman of the Rakhine Women’s Initiative Organization, said the rise in Covid-19 cases was attributed to a lack of public awareness concerning the virus. 

“The increase in the number of Covid-19 cases is due to the government’s inability to take effective measures to prevent the spread of the deadly virus. Individuals are also weak in terms of compliance with the virus-related regulations,” she said. 

Nine people in Sittwe who returned from border trading in Bangladesh and another two people who were air passengers tested positive for the virus on November 30. Fifteen boatmen who returned from Bangladesh were found to have been diagnosed with Covid-19 and another 11 air travellers tested positive for the virus from December 1-16. 

A 74-year-old man with an underlying disease tested positive for Covid-19 on December 9 in the Arakan State capital Sittwe and died the same day, according to aid workers. The elderly victim suffered from diabetes and was admitted to Sittwe General Hospital with a high fever and low oxygen levels. 

Further setting CSOs and public health authorities on edge, the new variant Omicron has been reported in neighbouring countries such as Bangladesh, India and Thailand. As a result, the border trade camps in Arakan State should tighten up their operations, said U Zaw Zaw Tun, secretary of the Arakan Humanitarian Coordination Team (AHCT). 

“Relevant border trade camps should be closely monitored and any cases of Covid-19 infection should be reported to the public. The authorities must also explain what [preventive measures] the people should follow. Local groups need to work closely with authorities and departments to monitor the spread of the virus,” he added. 

The Arakan State regime council is keeping a watchful eye on motorways, waterways and air travel to mitigate the spread of Covid-19, U Hla Thein, spokesperson for the state’s military government, said earlier this month. 

“Concerned officials should keep a watchful eye on boatmen as the new variant Omicron has been reported in neighbouring countries,” said U Min Htel Wah, chairman of the Shwe Yaung Myittar Foundation. 

During the pandemic’s third wave in Arakan State, which began in earnest in June, a total of 5,206 people had tested positive for Covid-19 as of December 14, 501 of whom died, according to figures supplied by the Arakan State Covid-19 Control and Emergency Response Committee.