Myanmar has brought more areas under the stay at home restrictions as COVID 19 cases reached close to 10,000 on Saturday. In an announcement on Friday, the Ministry of Health and Sports ordered that eleven new areas under Mon state, Mandalay region, Bago region, and Ayeyawady regions will have to observe stay at home restrictions to effectively control the spread of Coronavirus in the country.

The people from these regions are ordered to stay at home with government employees to work in rotation from home and office in a two-week cycle. Excluding essential services and people working at ports, communications, banking and financial institutions, other offices and companies, workplaces have been ordered to be closed temporarily.

In her report to people about the latest COVID 19 situation on Saturday, State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi called upon people to observe health guidelines like wearing masks, regular hand washing and social distancing norms. She also cautioned people not to try household remedies to cure coronavirus infection based on social media recommendations.

In the meanwhile, to deal with the growing cases of Corona infection straining the civilian health facilities, the Myanmar military Tatmadaw is preparing hospital facilities for approximately 1500 persons. It has assembled 40 medical teams with 15 members each to provide treatment to civilians.

In view of the rapidly rising cases of Coronavirus in the country, Myanmar has announced the extension of the international flight suspension till October 31. The Department of Civil Aviation (DCA) in a circular issued on Thursday said that the temporary measures relating to flight suspension announced on August 26 will now be in force till October 31. The DCA said that the measure has been taken to effectively control the spread of Covid-19 from external sources. Myanmar has stopped international commercial flights since March 30 immediately after the first case of Covid-19 was detected in the country.

In the meanwhile, COVID 19 cases continued to surge in Myanmar. On Friday, the country reported 768 new cases of Coronavirus and 24 deaths. On Thursday also, Myanmar had reported 1052 fresh Corona positive cases in the country. On Friday, the total number of infections in Myanmar has gone up to 9112. The latest death toll stands at 174.

In order to tackle COVID 19 patients, the Myanmar military Tatmadaw has started treating civilian patients at its medical facilities in Yangon’s Hmawabi township.