MANDALAY—The Myanmar Union government has extended restrictions and preventive measures for COVID-19 until June 15.
The order was issued on Thursday night by the National-Level Central Committee for COVID-19 Prevention, Control and Treatment. The government banned mass gathering and religious activities on March 13 and had extended the restriction twice already.
The Ministry of Health and Sports (MOHS), however, has eased stay-at-home restrictions on some townships in Yangon and lifted some national restrictions such as bans on gatherings of more than five people for government offices, companies, factories, schools and trainings.
According to MOHS, the following groups are allowed to gather with more than five people, nation-wide: people who are going to work at government offices, companies or factories; children, parents and teachers going to schools and trainings; and people going out to eateries that are following preventive measures for COVID-19.
The stay-at-home restrictions for four townships in Yangon—Bahan, South Okkalapa, Pabedan and Tamwe—will also be lifted starting Friday.
However, it is not clear whether the 12-4 a.m. curfew will still be in effect or not.
The government has been easing some restriction step-by-step since mid-May, including in the hardest-hit cities and towns such as Yangon, Mandalay, Tedim in Chin State and Kale in Sagaing region.
The easing of restrictions allows restaurants, teashops, markets and factories to reopen and passenger highway buses to restart operations in some regions.
Basic education schools, nurseries and private schools are still ordered to remain closed while the government makes plans to reopen high schools in July.
The ban on incoming international flights through Sunday is still effective and no notice has been issued on lifting the ban or restarting operations.
Myanmar has reported 206 COVID-19 cases with six deaths and 126 recoveries as of Friday.
You may also like these stories:
Embracing Isolation: Reflections on the Value of Confinement Amid COVID-19
