YANGON - A total of 14 monks and three laypersons from Ngwe Kyar Yan Monastery in South Oakkalapa Township, Yangon Region, tested positive for COVID-19, said MP Dr Saw Naing from South Oakkalapa Township.

“We tested 80 monks and 25 laypersons from Ngwe Kyar Yan Monastery for coronavirus on October 19th and then 14 monks and 3 laypersons tested positive for coronavirus. The testing with rapid test kits is being carried out by the Township Health Department and Administrative authorities,” said Dr Saw Naing.

He also said that a monk and a person from a monastery went to Ayeyawady Center aiming to test for coronavirus in recent days. The two had been infected with COVID-19. Moreover, a monk from Ngwe Kyar Yan Monastery went to North Oakkalapa Township Hospital on October 18th because he was sick but he does not know whether that particular monk tested positive.

Currently, the Ngwe Kyar Yan Monastery is under lockdown and plans are underway to send those infected monks and laypersons to the COVID-19 treatment center.

There are over 80 monks and 25 laypersons in Ngwe Kyar Yan Monastery.

The Ministry of Health and Sports yesterday announced that Myanmar saw 37,205 COVID-19 cases with 914 deaths.