Commander-in-Chief of Defence Services Senior General Min Aung Hlaing has instructed officials to take measures to allow emergency patients in regions where a night-time curfew is in force to go to hospitals at night without any hindrance, State-run TV and newspapers reported.  

The military chief made the remark during the second coordination meeting on Covid-19 prevention, control and treatment held in Nay Pyi Taw on July 12.

Speaking about measures to go from one place to another at night for health reasons in areas under curfew, the Senior General said: “There is one point about the need to go outside at night in emergency cases in towns under curfew. It is right. In towns under curfew, the public are worried about security forces preventing them from going to hospitals at night. At the same time, it is necessary to worry about undesirable incidents committed by unscrupulous persons who take advantage of the situation. Therefore, it is necessary to strike the balance between the two situations. Therefore, we will take measures to allow emergency patients to go to hospitals without any hindrance at night. For example, they may be going within their own township or to another township. It is necessary to check this and permit them to go at once. It may take about two minutes or 30 seconds to check the matter. It is necessary to ask where the patient is and if there is any doctor or health personnel. If so, they can be allowed to go to the hospital at once. That is all, isn’t it? It is necessary to establish contacts among security forces. I would like to point out that the problems caused by curfew can be overcome in this way.”

At the meeting, the Senior General also stressed the need for production of enough oxygen, protective equipment, medicines and medical equipment and prompt and correct import of those equipment for the benefits of the State.

He then called on government ministries to cooperate with the health and sports ministry.