Covid-19 and Myanmar

Daily COVID-19 Transmission has Increased to Over 3,000 Cases

Within 5 days, between February 18, 2022 and February 22, 2022, daily average COVID-19 transmission has increased to 3,000 cases. According to official figures from MoH, COVID-19 transmission has peaked again in five months and the possibility of another wave is now increasingly likely. The Yangon Region is currently the most seriously affected area, with over 12,400 people infected as of February 22, 2022. Nationwide, 38 percent of all COVID-19 cases reported in February 2022 were from the heavily-populated Yangon Region.

COVID-19 Transmission Peaks to Record High in Five Months

On December 28, 2021, the State Administration Council (SAC) announced the detection of a new variant of the COVID-19 virus, Omicron, in Myanmar. The SAC-controlled Ministry of Health (MoH) has since made 15 announcements regarding the presence of the Omicron variant, with 348 cases latest reported as of February 3, 2022. However, many people have been reported to have shown Omicron symptoms during the first two weeks of February, meaning Omicron is likely to be spreading more rapidly than official statistics suggest.

Omicron & Caution for Myanmar

Four new cases with the new Omicron strain of COVID-19 have been found in Myanmar among recent international arrivals. The military council announced on December 28 that the infected individuals have been allowed to return home after the required quarantine period due to good health.

21 Jul 2021

Policy Editorial

Policy Recommendations for Solving the Challenges of the COVID-19 Third Wave Using International Humanitarian Assistance

Only if everyone comes together to solve the pandemic that Myanmar is currently facing will the country be able to lessen the physical and mental trauma that will be experienced for generations. Humanitarian crises could stem from politics or could become worse because of politics. Therefore, the solution to the humanitarian crisis should eventually transition from a humanitarian emergency to more sustained solutions for the political crisis. Good examples of humanitarian response can be seen in Aceh after the 2004 tsunami and in Nepal after 2015 earthquake. Even if political solutions cannot be found immediately, all stakeholders should follow the recommendations mentioned above quickly since these will provide major support in saving people’s lives during the COVID-19 third wave in Myanmar.

The COVID-19 Pandemic’s Third Wave and Human Security

What Matter No. 23 (This article is a translation of the original Burmese language version that ISP-Myanmar posted on its Facebook page on April 30, 2021.) The people of Myanmar have been fighting against a military dictatorship since the coup of February 1 and paying the price for their struggle. Concurrently, the third wave of the global COVID-19 […]