Lashio town in Shan State (North) has seen 1,494 Covid-19 cases over the past 45 days and 77 have died during their hospitalizations, according to local sources.
Since a new case was found on July 9, the town has reported cases almost daily forcing a lot of markets including the central market and shops to close.
With increasing positivity rates, Lashio was declared as a stay-at-home town by the ministry of health and sports on June 27.
After the stay-home order, travels and movements in the town have decreased but positivity rate has not declined significantly with daily reports of many cases. After July 20, district and township committees for Covid-19 prevention, control and treatment, departments, fire brigades, the Red Cross Society and ward administrators took measures to restrict the movement in all the communities of the town.
“Travel is allowed for essential matters such as going to hospitals or clinics and collecting oxygen. But it is not for non-essential matters. Personal items, household and kitchen utensils can be bought in their own communities. In my opinion, it is good to do so because infection here is getting very high. Lashio has not seen many cases in both the first and second waves. Due to the restrictions, there have been just a few movements in the town. But this causes difficulties for daily-wage workers and vendors. They will face a challenge to their living conditions,” said Lashio resident Sai Win Han.
Nay Myo from the local Covid-19 operation team also said: “Our team provided food items donated by well-wishers to needy people and daily-wage workers in the wards of the town. They seem to be facing many difficulties. We are sorry for them. We are distributing dried fish and rice donated by Lucky gold shop and other donated food items. Some phoned us asking if we can donate again them for days to come. They cannot go outside either because of the stay-at-home order.”
Till July 24, Lashio had seen 1,494 Covid-19 cases and 77 deaths. But, 814 have been discharged from hospital.
An official from the township health department said those in close contact with the patients, those with loss of smell and those with high body temperature totalling about 300 would have PCR swabs tested on July 29.
