Myanmar found 163 new COVID-19 confirmed cases on March 28 bringing total number of patients to 611,021, according to an announcement from Ministry of Health (MOH).

A total of 16,011 samples are tested between 8 pm of March 27 and 8 pm of March 28 and found 163 patients. Total number of death tolls is 19,430, according to a report from the MOH.

A total of 7,614,334 samples are tested till March 28 and 469 people are allowed to be discharged from the hospital bringing total number to 568,818, it said.

The samples were tested in labs under the MOH, using GeneXpert machines in hospitals in Nay Pyi Taw Council, all regions and states, at No.1 1,000-Bed Military Hospital in Yangon, at No.2 1,000-Bed Military Hospital in Nay Pyi Taw, at private hospitals and labs and using COVID-19 Rapid Antigen Diagnostic Test in hospitals and public health departments in Nay Pyi Taw Council, all regions and states.

In addition, the ministry is stepping up efforts to prevent and control COVID-19 disease from all sides and is constantly monitoring the positivity and deaths. A study of deaths caused by COVID-19 in Myanmar found that a full dose of vaccination could reduce deaths by up to about seven times, according to the MOH.

The ministry will ensure that no one is left behind, including those living in rural and remote areas. The COVID-19 vaccine is being given free of charge to all target groups, including people with 18 years old and above and 12- to 18-year-old primary school students. The MOH urged people, who haven’t received the vaccination yet, to contact the nearest healthcare departments and village and ward administration offices for repeated immunizations.

Information on the COVID-19 disease can be found at www.moh.gov.mm.