Myanmar Sees Record High COVID-19 Spike Since Coup

By The Irrawaddy 14 June 2021

Myanmar reported 373 new cases of COVID-19 across the country on Sunday, the largest daily jump in coronavirus cases since the Feb. 1 coup.

The previous biggest rise in official COVID-19 cases was 212 on June 4.

Myanmar is seeing a rapid increase in COVID-19 cases near the Indian border in Kale and Tamu townships in Sagaing Region and Tonzang and Falam townships in Chin State.

Since last week, about 20 to 70 daily coronavirus cases were reported in Sagaing Region. Most of the cases are reported in Kale and Tamu townships, in the west of the large region.

According to the military-controlled Ministry of Health and Sports, around 15 to 50 COVID-19 cases have been reported in Kale since early June while Tamu Township has reported between 11 and 40 cases per day.

News agency Zalen said about 32 people have died of COVID-19 in Kale this month. The township enforced stay-at-home orders on June 2.

Two Christian pastors, aged 43 and 53, died of COVID-19 in Kale on Sunday.

According to the public health department in Hakha, Chin State, around 480 COVID-19 cases were reported in the state between May 19 and June 11.

About 337 COVID-19 cases and 10 deaths – the highest number in the state – were reported in Tonzang Township. Falam Township reported 128 COVID-19 cases and one death.

Five out of the nine Chin State townships – Tonzang, Hakha, Tedim, Falam and Thantlang – are under health ministry stay-at-home orders.

Tonzang is facing a lack of medicines and ventilators for COVID-19 patients, a township health official recently told The Irrawaddy.

The junta-control Myanma Alinn newspaper on June 12 said the regime has supplied sufficient COVID-19 antigen test kits, oxygen cylinders, protective equipment and medicines in Kale.

Since the coup, the regime has been struggling to maintain COVID-19 prevention, control and treatment as thousands of government medical staff and numerous volunteers have refused to work for the junta.

The health ministry has reportedly conducted around 1,500 to 2,000 COVID-19 tests per day compared with between 16,000 to 18,000 under the ousted civilian government.

On Sunday, Myanmar reported 145,603 COVID-19 cases, including 3,244 deaths and 132,928 recoveries.

You may also like these stories:

Myanmar Junta Accuses NLD Lawmakers of Organizing Armed Resistance

Striking Myanmar Medics Face up to Six Years in Jail

In Myanmar, Pro-Junta Vigilante Groups Wage Campaign of Violence, Disinformation