More than 80 percent of daily deaths from Covid-19 in Myanmar have underlying health conditions and the majority of deaths occur among elderly men, according to the Ministry of Health and Sports. 

“As the Yangon Region sees a pandemic-like outbreak, we also see deaths to a certain extent. According to the medical experts, 80 to 90 percent of deaths are due to their underlying health conditions. If those suffering from non-communicable diseases are infected with the coronavirus, death rates may get high. Government hospitals and clinics are trying to provide continuous treatment to the patients suffering from diabetes, hypertension and other non-communicable diseases. If necessary, coordination is sought from private hospitals for their treatment,” said retired Director General Dr Than Win, also a member of the technical support and advisory committee for the Ministry of Health and Sports. 

During a meeting on Covid-19 prevention, control and treatment measures held on October 25 Union Minister Dr Myint Htwe stressed the need to learn and review the relations between Covid-19 deaths and chronic diseases and therapies in other countries. 

“About 90 percent of Covid-19 deaths in our country are those suffering from diabetes, hypertension, kidney disease, heart disease or vascular disease. Most deaths occur among elderly men. Elderly people mostly live in their homes. But they might be infected with the virus from a certain member of their family who has to go outside for various reasons. So I want to say that authorities need to disseminate knowledge in their communities with the use of loud speakers. They must say that elderly people and critically ill people must live in their homes keeping themselves distant from other family members,” the minister said.