Fifteen political parties including the Union Solidarity and Development Party on March 15 issued a joint statement calling on the National Defence and Security Council to take charge of all response measures such as personal security and food security as the danger of COVID-19 may befall Myanmar. 

The statement says public raised concern over the sudden onslaught of virus infection due to inherent factors such as Myanmar’s sharing of the 1,323-mile border with the virus affected country, continued permission for entry to the country through air, maritime and border routes. It then calls for ensuring a stockpile of lab equipment, medicines and medical equipment. 

The statement points out factor closures, bankruptcy, slow border trade and joblessness due to the COVID-19 impact as well as panic buying. 

It says the government’s response measures are welcomed. To protect the country against any danger of COVID-19 in a more effective manner, the National Defence and Security Council should take charge while it is necessary to draw a disaster management strategy.