Of the many Myanmar workers returning from Thailand for various reasons, about 50 percent of them were found to have been infected with the Omicron variant of Covid-19.

Myanmar workers returning home have been welcomed at the Friendship Bridge 2 at the rate of 200 per day, three days a week. They were sent to three Quarantine Centers and upon undergoing medical examinations twice about 50 percent of them found to have been Covid-19 Positive, as disclosed by Deputy District Administrator U Aung Chan Nyein of Myawady District.

He said that 600 of these returnees were welcomed per week. The returnees were sent to Meikane, Trade zone and Kyauklongyi Quarantine Centres separately. On the third and seventh days they were tested. There were more Positive patients discovered at the second test. He further said that those found to be Positive were sent Covid Centre for treatment. At the moment about 50 percent of these returnees were found to be Positive. He said that those coming on 5th of the month were tested on 12th and there were more Positive cases. 50 percent of those returning had been found to have got infected, the Deputy Administrator said.

The Deputy Administrator further said that upon testing the Myanmar returnees 644 were found to have been infected. He said that the Positivity rate in town was on the rise so that 112 had been infected. In Myawady the total number of those infected during the first, second, third and the present fourth waves has reached 3996 cases. As a result preventive measures such as educating, warning and recommending the wearing of masks have been promoted in cooperation with the social organizations.

It has been learnt that with effect from February 27 those not wearing masks while Executive Officer, U Kyaw Kyaw Oo, of City Development who took part in the Mask campaign, said that in order to prevent Omicron for the health of the public during the past 5 days masks were given out free of charge.  He said that starting from the other day fines were imposed so that those not wearing masks were fined 500 kyats and were given two masks at five locations in town, once in the morning and once in the evening. Such measure was taken as the infection was airborne.

As the positivity rate was on the rise in Myawady town educative measure of imposing fine on those in spite of the mask campaign by social welfare organizations there is crowding due to game centres and theatres.