The number of quarantine sites in Rakhine State has increased to over 270, with over 1200 with restricted movement so that there has been an increase of over 1000 persons.

Since 16 Aug, there were 218 with movement restrictions, but on 24 Aug. the number totalled 1250 so that within eight days there has been an increase  of over 1000. Up till 24 Aug  the Region and State designated places of restricted movement and monitoring have increased to 2670 and the number of people with movement restricted increased to 2058, and in Yangon Region there are 4772 persons with movement restricted.

Since there are not enough places for quarantine in Yangon Region efforts are being made to designate the Computer College in Shwe Pyi Thar and Yoma Yeikthar in South Dagon as quarantine sites, said Yangon Region government member, Social Affairs Minister Naingan Lin. He also said at present there are seven types of quarantine in Yangon Region. 

“The first type is for Care Providers. It is for doctors and health workers who collect swabs. The second type is for those who have had contact with positive patients from Rakhine. This type is known as Hotel Quarantine and Facility Quarantine numbering 5 with 43 persons. Those coming Rakhine numbering 545 are kept in 10 Hotel Quarantine and Facility Quarantine. There are 29 Hotel Quarantine sites for those coming from abroad, their number being 1383. There are 23 Facility Quarantine sites for those coming back from abroad, their number being 2807. Those with Secondary contact, who number 93, are kept in 14 Home Quarantine sites. There are 111 persons in 5 Community Quarantine sites.”

In the entire nation till 22 Aug. there are over 2600 quarantine sites, and there are over 19000 whose movement has been restricted. Those who have completed 21 days will be monitored in their houses for 7 days.

Since the outbreak of COVID-19 from 16 Aug. in Rakhine State there has been a surge of local transmission.

The Health and Sports Ministry organized a Rapid Response Team headed by the director of the Public Health Department on 17 Aug., and sent the team to Rakhine State. The team is working with the Rakhine State Public Health Department in order to carry out control and response tasks. They also try to seek out all those who have had close contact with those confirmed by lab tests and place them in locations with restricted movement, and to take swabs for lab tests.They seek out persons with secondary contact and place them under restriction of movement at home. As per announcement made on 20 Aug. the people of Sittwe, where the number of confirmed cases is the most, were asked to STAY AT HOME.