Aung San Suu Kyi is taking precautions during the global coronavirus outbreak despite no confirmed COVID-19 cases in Myanmar.
The 74-year-old leader yesterday apologised to crowds in northern Shan state’s Lashio and Mandalay region’s Pyin Oo Lwin for not shaking hands.
She cited health ministry advice to dodge unnecessary physical contact in order to avoid transmitting the virus. But, holding public meetings across the country, she seemingly overlooked another part of the advice: to avoid crowded places and mass gatherings.
Her official Facebook page quoted the leader as saying though the outbreak damaged border trade and the economy, “efforts are being made to secure better health and economic benefits to the people as much as we can.”
She told a crowd in Lashio’s city hall that that “people should understand and abide by the guidelines.”
“I do want all the citizens to rely on themselves instead of relying on the state,” she said.
Touring in her capacity as the chairperson of the Central Committee for the Development of Border Areas and National Races, she later thanked people for a warm welcome at a Pyin Oo Lwin sports ground.
“The second thing I’d like to draw your attention is that on this visit, nobody gives me a handshake, thanks to the instructions of the ministry of health,” she said.
“I would also urge you all not to do handshakes in the meanwhile. As you all know, according to the reports, COVID-19 virus has not yet been detected in our country, but we cannot be definitely sure about its entry.
“This threatening disease has already spread all over the world. The source happens to come from our neighbouring country, and we share a long border with this country, so there is a great possibility of impending danger. The moment it has infected the regions here, it would be an urgent case for quarantining the disease.”
Organisers conducted health checks at the entrances to the venues and crowds swelled into the hundreds, reported The Irrawaddy.
The government is providing updates on suspected and confirmed cases via its website. Meanwhile, organisers of this year’s Thingyan, the Burmese New Year, are considering curbing celebrations in Yangon and other parts of Myanmar.
The Myanmar military has also cancelled its annual parade scheduled for late March because of the virus and all of its constitutionally assigned lawmakers have been photographed wearing surgical masks in parliament.
The outbreak, which originated in China's Wuhan, has infected more than 118,000 globally with over 4,200 deaths, according to a tally compiled by AFP.
