Three Myanmar Military Officers Infected With COVID-19 in Russia ‘Doing Well’: Army

By Htet Naing Zaw 30 April 2020

NAYPYITAW—Three Myanmar military officers who tested positive for COVID-19 while undergoing training in Russia are responding well to medical treatment in Moscow, a Myanmar military spokesperson said.

“All three are officers attending training in Russia, and will be treated in Russia. The Myanmar military attaché’s office in Russia is in contact with them and providing assistance,” Brigadier-General Zaw Min Tun told The Irrawaddy.

Two of the Myanmar military (or Tatmadaw) officers were attending the Russian University of Transport (RUT), and the other was attending the Moscow Power Engineering Institute (MPEI) when they tested positive for the coronavirus earlier this month.

A Nigerian student was the first international student at the RUT to test positive for the coronavirus in early April. Following his case, on April 10 and April 20 lab tests were carried out on students living in his dormitory, and the two Myanmar officers tested positive.

Lab tests were also carried out on Myanmar students at the MPEI, as their dormitory had been visited by Russian students who later tested positive for COVID-19. The military trainee tested positive.

The Tatmadaw said there has been no COVID-19 case among military personnel or their families in Myanmar, and has strictly prohibited them from leaving their barracks.

As of Thursday morning, 150 COVID-19 cases had been reported in Myanmar. Six died and 27 have recovered.

Translated from Burmese by Thet Ko Ko

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