YANGON----The Ministry of Health and Sports (MOHS) banned Text Kit for coronavirus to the workers from Saiform International Garment  Factory (Myanmar) in Shwe Than Lwin Industrial Zone in Hlaingthayar Township, Yangon Region.

“The officials from the garment factory yesterday started a text kit for coronavirus to the garment workers without including MOHS. So, the authorities from the health department in Hlaingthayar Township banned it. Now, the testing with Text Kit stopped. Nearly 700 garment workers have already been tested. Among them, the results of over 40 workers are positive,” said Aung Kyaw Naing, a leader of the workers from the garment factory.

He also said that the blood testing must be carried out under the supervision of MOHS. Now, the blood testing is carried out with no one from MOHS. If the result will be positive, a worker must be left at home. However, the wards didn’t accept them. So, there had been quarrels.

“We carried out fever screening activities for the workers by using a test kit. I saw these test kits yesterday morning. But, the health department banned us. So, we stopped it. I think that the blood testing aimed for fever screening,” said Factory Manager San Yu. 

The test kit being used by the factory is used with blood whether there will be coronavirus or not.

However, the test kit from the government is used with swabs. So, the government’s test kit is safer than the factory test kit.

The  government allowed factories and small businesses in Yangon to resume operations on October 12th after they pass inspections meant to gauge if they are compliant with MOHS guidelines.