The state high schools in Rakhine State are ordered to close till further notice as more COVID-19 patients are found in the state, said Ko Lay Win, Director General of Department of Basic Education on August 21.
The reopening of schools is depended on the control over the virus, he said.
‘If the outbreak is big, the schools will not be reopened in a short time,” said the director general.
The state schools in the state were closed from August 21.
The department instructed its staffs in the state to prevent the spread of virus in children and explain the parents about the temporary closure of schools, he said.
“The spread of virus is not started from schools but the students are living in communities. If the virus is infected in schools, the situation will be worse. We have an online meeting with department heads of states, regions and districts in this evening,” he said.
There are about 500 state schools in the state and more than 35,000 high school students are attending.
The authorities have imposed two months nighttime curfew in Sittwe from 9 pm to 4 am.
Rakhine State Chief Minister and some state cabinet members are taken swab tests as a COVID-19 confirmed patient in Sittwe is a government staff. Some have tested negative for the virus but the rest are waiting the results, said Development Affairs Minister of the state.
Now people who had close contacts with the confirmed patients and suspects are put under quarantine and have taken swab tests.
The authorities only allowed to open shops selling food and medicines in Sittwe market and the market is opened only half day, he added.
Masks are difficult to buy in the state and prices are higher, according to locals and social welfare associations.
Homes and streets of the confirmed patients have been placed on lockdown, announced the state government.
Most of the confirmed patients are found in Sittwe.
Vessels running in the state are ordered to stop till further notice, according to locals.
Moreover bus lines running between Sittwe and Yangon are also stopped.
Price of masks is increased in Yangon after the infection rate is increased and some shops and pharmacies have out of stocks.
Masks are not out of stock and only the price is increased, according to a mask wholesale center.
The authorities put staffs from Shwe Lamin private hospital in quarantine as they had contacts with COVID-19 confirmed patient case-378 from Rakhine, said MP Kyaw Tun of No.2 Lanmadaw Constituency.
“The confirmed patient came to the hospital to take x-ray on August 12 and all medical staffs including doctors and nurses, who have close contact with her, have taken swab tests. I don’t know how many of them,” said the MP.
The confirmed patient is from Sittwe and she stayed at a home in North Oakkalapa Township. The house she stayed in Yangon is now locked down.
Some highway buses from Sittwe are stopped near Tikekyi tollgate. Health authorities checked the health of passengers and sent them to a quarantine center in Hlaing Township, said MP Kyaw Kyaw Tun of No.1 Hlaing Constituency.
