YANGON—As Myanmar recorded its largest-ever daily spike in COVID-19 cases, the government’s investment agencies announced the criteria for foreign staff seeking to re-enter the country.
Companies have recently submitted several applications to the Myanmar Investment Commission (MIC) and Directorate of Investment and Company Administration (DICA) to allow the re-entry of their foreign experts via relief flights.
The MIC and DICA announced on Tuesday that foreigners seeking to fly to Myanmar will have to prove they have urgent tasks in the country.
The statement said visas will only be issued after scrutiny from the Central Committee for Prevention, Control and Treatment of COVID-19 and other government organizations and ministries. The COVID-19 committee also instructed the Ministry of International Cooperation to inspect all urgent requests.
The MIC and DICA said all companies registered with Myanmar Companies Online (MyCo) which receive an MIC permit must directly contact a Myanmar embassy about visiting the country with a relief flight.
MyCo is a company online registration system and all the firms operating in the country must register online.
It said the MIC and DICA will coordinate with embassies, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Ministry of International Cooperation when confirming applications.
The announcement said the COVID-19 committee had decided the Ministry of Labor, Immigration and Population will not be responsible for granting visas to foreigners.
In March, Myanmar stopped issuing visas and banned commercial flights to stop the spread of COVID-19.
As of Wednesday, Myanmar has reported 574 COVID-19 cases with six deaths. A total of 100 people tested positive during the last 24 hours, with 99 of the cases transmitted within the country, according to the Ministry of Health and Sports.
You may also like these stories:
Myanmar Reports 100 New COVID-19 Cases Overnight in Country’s Largest Jump So Far
Myanmar Closes Govt and Private High Schools Amid COVID-19 Surge
COVID-19 Tests Taken at IDP Camps Amid Outbreak in Western Myanmar
