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The recent climb in Covid-19 cases has prompted Yangon police to crack down on curfew violators.
More than 600 people were arrested in Yangon overnight on September 2 for breaching the 12pm to 4am curfew, Yangon Region police told 7Day News Daily yesterday.
The harsher action comes as Myanmar confirmed its first coronavirus-related death—a 46-year-old woman from Thanlyin township in Yangon region.
The patient had joint and skin conditions, and died of renal failure and a heart attack. Her diagnosis of Covid-19 was confirmed on Wednesday, making her the seventh coronavirus-related death in the country.
Though health experts have warned that people with underlying health conditions are particularly vulnerable, 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.
With swelling daily tallies of cases and 1,133 confirmed cases as of Friday afternoon, Yangon police said 618 men and 29 women have been detained for breaking curfew from September 2, adding that more than 100 vehicles and 18 motorcycles have also been seized.
“Arrests [for breaching curfew] resumed on September 2 because of the increase in COVID-19 infections and it was important to take action,” Sein Thaung, administrator of Botahtaung township, told 7Day News Daily.
Police Captain Tin Lat, head of Insein Myoma police station, said Insein township court had on September 3 sentenced 10 people to jail for breaching curfew. Reports said they were each sentenced to one month’s imprisonment.
MP for Sanchaung, U Bo Bo Oo, posted on his Facebook page that Sanchaung township court had sentenced 10 people to one month’s imprisonment on September 3 for breaching the curfew, which MPs have said was designed to tackle a possible uptick in crime that may follow the confirmation of more Covid-19 cases
The maximum penalty for breaching curfew, under section 188 of the Penal Code for disobeying an order from a public servant, is one month’s imprisonment and a fine of 20,000 kyats.
Yangon regional government imposed a 10pm-4am curfew for all townships on April 18 in response to the first rise in Covid-19 cases.
At the time, some people were also charged for violating a ban on gatherings or five or more people under the 1995 Prevention and Control of Communicable Diseases Law, which carries a prison sentence up to six months, a fine of up to 50,000 kyats (US$35), or both.
On May 15 Myanmar shortened its nightly curfew by two hours and allowed outdoor gatherings of less than 30 people from August 16.
As of this afternoon, the nightly curfew remains 12pm to 4am.
The government also imposed partial lockdown for seven Yangon townships on September 2 meaning residents are required to stay home unless going to work, food shopping or seeking medical care.
Only one person per household is permitted to go shopping at a time, only two people can go to the hospital or clinic, and only “authorised” vehicles will be allowed to pass through wards, according to the announcement.
Vehicles can carry one passenger and a driver for shopping, and two passengers and a driver for hospital visits—approval for any more passengers should be sought at the local ward office, said the announcement.
The townships under the restrictions are Thingangyun, Insein, North Okkalapa, Thaketa, Hlaing, Pazundaung and Mingaladon.
