Myanmar could now test a maximum of 4,000 to 5,000 Covid-19 samples a day, said Dr Khin Khin Gyi, director of Central Epidemiology Unit at the Ministry of Health and Sports.  

 “We have a limitation. We can do in even such numbers because all township hospitals also have tests with the use of GeneXpert machines. Infection rate has increased because we test those with possible infection. We have six main facilities and 13 hospitals. So we can test around 4,500 samples. Testing very large numbers is not possible as our country has limited resources. We are working in coordination with relevant organizations such as WHO and UNICEF. Under current circumstances, we can test a maximum of 4,000 or 5,000 samples per day,” said Dr Khin Khin Gyi.   

When the country started to see Covid-19 cases, only about 2,000 samples could be tested, she added. 

Currently, Covid-19 samples are being tested by the National Health Laboratory (Yangon), the Department of Medical Research, the Public Health Laboratory (Mandalay), the Public Health Laboratory (Mawlamyine) and people’s hospitals in different townships such as Pathein, Nay Pyi Taw, Sittway, Kyaukphyu, Myaungmya, Muse, Myeik, Taunggo, Pyay, Hpa-an, Haka and Tiddim and defence services hospitals. 

Till the morning of September 17, 191,696 samples had been tested, according to the Ministry of Health and Sports.