MT News
Yangon Region saw 539 cases, the largest number of all in the country, followed by Kayin State with 196 cases, Vice Chairman of State Administration Council Vice-Senior General Soe Win said at the 7th Work Coordination Meeting of COVID-19 Control, Emergency Response Committee held in Nay Pyi Taw on 2 May.
The Vice-Senior General said it is necessary to take control measures to prevent any higher number. Convid-19 testing must be compulsory for those entering the country through borders. Those infected are to be sent to the designated places for treatment.
Systematic monitoring is required for any infections at monasteries, schools and teaching monasteries where cluster cases were reported in the previous waves. Constant monitoring for protective equipment demands is also necessary, the Vice-Senior General said.
The Vice-Senior General said it was learnt that Omicron variant Arcturus XBB.1.16, which has spread in neighbouring countries, has been identified since 1 April, according to studies and the transmission has slightly increased after the Thingyan Festival. However, it was also found that it is not necessary to worry about the transmission compared with previous Omicron transmission. In April, the transmission rate reached its peak with 1.14 percent rise in the transmission rate on 29 April with 130 people infected with the new variant. On the remaining days of the month, transmission rate remained below one percent and only two people died of the new variant.
The Vice-Senior General said during the period from 1 April to 1 May, about 903 people were infected with the new variant, known as Arcturus, which is known to be less severe than other previously known COVID-19 variants, according to scientists. Common distinctive symptoms of the variant include sore eyes and earaches and it is necessary to conduct further studies and to launch awareness-raising campaigns about the findings.
The purpose of the meeting today is to monitor and control the outbreak of the new Arcturus variant, to raise awareness about it and to respond to it quickly, he added.
Next, those in attendance at the meeting reported on prevention, control and treatment of Covid-19.
