Cargo truck drivers and their assistants no longer need to have Covid-19 tests when leaving Mandalay Region, said Region Minister for Shan Ethnic Affairs Sai Pan Hsai. 

Beginning October 1, they had to enter and exit the toll gates of various regions and states if they had endorsements showing that they had tests in 14 days and tested negative for the virus. 

But from October 7 onwards, Mandalay Region would prioritize testing them only when entering the region, and they don’t need to have testing when leaving there. 

“Our region sees so many cargo trucks from other regions entering and leaving. So they are usually stranded at the toll gates and checkpoints. According to the instruction we received on October 3, we will no longer have tests on the drivers and helpers leaving Mandalay. If they enter again, they will have tests,” said the minister. 

From October 2 to 5, 3,776 truck drives and assistants underwent Covid-19 tests with rapid test kits at 10 toll gates and among them, 26 tested positive for the coronavirus. 

The region was supplied with 8,000 test kits from October 2 to 6 and only 1,050 were left. So authorities have asked the Ministry of Health and Sports for more test kits.