Myanmar stopped issuing visas to all foreign nationals today in a bid to curb the spread of Covid-19 outbreak.
The measure lasts until April 30, said the health ministry, and basically cuts off the country from the rest of the world after a week of rising coronavirus cases in the country.
All types of visas are suspended except for diplomats, United Nations officials, and ship and aircraft crews, according to the announcement.
Diplomats may get visas through Myanmar embassies and consulates abroad and must show a medical certificate proving they have tested negative for the virus before boarding any airline to Myanmar.
They will be home quarantined for 14 days on arrival, said the ministry.
Foreign nationals who require visiting Myanmar “on urgent official mission or for a compelling reason may contact Myanmar embassies broad for possible exception on certain entry restrictions from the authorities,” said the announcement.
Myanmar confirmed its eight first Covid-19 cases over the last week. Of these, seven had recently travelled overseas.
However experts suspect the virus was present in Myanmar before this week, as the country shares a long, porous border with China and has so far tested only 372 people out of a population of 54 million.
The country has reportedly appealed to the World Health Organisation for more aid to tackle a possible spread sparked by thousands of migrants returning from Thailand and dispersing through Myanmar last week.
People have been hospitalized with the virus in Yangon, Naypyidaw, Mandalay, and Chin state.
Mandalay has gone into partial shutdown, closing its bars, tea shops and big markers while keeping open supermarkets and pharmacies.
Meanwhile, beaches in Dawei and Irrawaddy region have closed to discourage visitors from travelling and Yangon municipal authorities have reportedly asked restaurants in several townships to operate take-away service only, reported the Myanmar Times.
