Myanmar today reported its biggest one-day rise in new Covid-19 cases, prompting questions over whether its biggest city Yangon will face another round of stay-at-home orders or other restrictions.
The Health and Sports Ministry posted 70 new confirmed cases, more than double last night’s figure of 30. It brings the total number of infections to 504, with 341 recoveries and six deaths.
Though the health ministry did not announce where the 70 new cases were found, 25 of yesterday’s cases were recorded in Rakhine state, the epicentre of Myanmar’s latest outbreak. All but one of the cases were local transmissions and one patient in Yangon had no recent travel history or contact with a confirmed Covid-19 patient, increasing the possibility that the virus is freely circulating in the city.
The health ministry stated the new wave might be a more infectious but less deadly virus mutation detected recently in Malaysia as well as Europe and North America.
Without tracing the virus, authorities will struggle to control the spread or enforce containment measures. Sittwe and—as of yesterday—Ann, Kyaukphyu, Taungup and Thandwe townships—has been placed under stay-at-home orders and a 9pm to 4am curfew.
Residents have been told to stay indoors unless to buy food and medicine or go to work, while face masks are mandatory in public. Checkpoints have been organised at the entries and exits to wards, and one person per household is allowed to go shopping.
It remains to be seen whether similar measures will be imposed in Yangon, but the health ministry announced yesterday it will conduct Covid-19 tests on groups who have daily “physical contact with several people” to gauge the spread of the virus.
