Myanmar Deports Chinese Coronavirus Suspect While Hunting Another Four
By Zarni Mann 7 February 2020
Mandalay – A coronavirus suspect in Myanmar that the Chinese authorities raised an alarm about was found in Pang Hseng in northern Shan State and deported to China on Thursday.
The police in the Chinese border town of Ruili warned the Shan State authorities that five of its citizens, who were suspected of carrying the coronavirus, had entered the country.
The Ruili police supplied pictures of four men and the woman that came from Wuhan.
“We found Xin Zui Fang in Pang Hseng last night. Tests showed she is healthy and has no symptoms of the coronavirus. We handed her over to the Chinese authorities from Wandingzhen,” said Police Major Aung Htain Lin, chief of Muse police.
The Myanmar police said the Chinese authorities later reported that laboratory tests showed Xin was clear of the coronavirus.
“The Chinese authorities told us this morning that she is free from the virus and healthy. We are still looking for the four men. We alerted every border checkpoint and residents to inform us if they are found and to follow the safety measures to prevent infection,” he said.
Myanmar’s Health Minister U Myint Htwe called for increased measures to boost protection and warned that people might be infected but show no symptoms.
“People need to avoid public gatherings, crowded places and follow the safety instructions to prevent infection,” said the minister.
The ministry has called on the public and hotels to inform the authorities if they see sick people from countries where infections have been reported.
The death toll due to the coronavirus has reached 636 with 31,161 infections in China, according to the World Health Organization on Thursday.
The virus has spread to at least 25 countries, including Thailand, India, Malaysia, Vietnam, Singapore, Japan, Australia, France and the United States.
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