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The COVID-19 pandemic in Myanmar is part of the worldwide pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). The virus was confirmed to have reached Myanmar on 23 March 2020. On 31 March, the Committee for Corona Virus Disease 19 (COVID-19), headed by First Vice President Myint Swe and made up of members from the various union ministries, was formed by President Win Myint, to combat the spread of COVID-19 in Myanma.

On 30 March, 4 more cases were confirmed. According to an official statement issued by Ministry of Health and Sports, four French tourists who were in close contact with the tour guide (Case-08) were put under quarantine at one of the hotels in Yangon and underwent a series of laboratory tests on 29 March 2020. 3 of them were confirmed positive on the next day (Case-11, Case-12, Case-13) and transferred to Way Bar Gi Specialist Hospital for further treatment. Case-14 is a patient in the northern Shan State.

30-Jan-2020 Myanmar President’s Office on Jan-30 announced the formation of a special committee to tackle the coronavirus chaired by the Union minister for international cooperation and the minister of health and sports.The announcement was made public on the same day that the first foreign visitor to Myanmar suspected of carrying the virus, a Chinese passenger on a flight from Guangzhou, was identified at Yangon International Airport and taken to a hospital in the city for further observation.The Central Committee to Prevent, Control and Treat the 2019 Novel Coronavirus was formed one day after the World Health Organization declared the coronavirus outbreak to be a global health emergency.

14-Mar-2020 Myanmar has imposed new rules banning and restricting travelers from China, South Korea and parts of Europe due to the coronavirus pandemic.19-Mar-2020 Myanmar on March 19 suspended entry of foreigners at its border gates as part of its measures to prevent the entry of the new coronavirus, which has afflicted nearly 220,000 people in 159 countries and territories. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement that all foreign nationals with valid visas can enter Myanmar only through Yangon, Nay Pyi Taw and Mandalay international airports “in accordance with existing rules and regulations.

The Yangon Region government has prepared 500 apartment units and two 300-bed hospitals for quarantine purposes, should the COVID-19 virus strike the city, according to Chief Minister U Phyo Min Thein on March 21. “There aren’t any patients in Yangon at the moment, but we have made 500 apartments available for quarantine purposes. Wai Bar Gi Hospital will only support a few patients. We are preparing two 300-bed hospitals to help quarantine those with the virus, in coordination with the Yangon General Hospital,” he said at a COVID-19 donation ceremony.

24-Mar-2020 The government on March 24 announced that all foreign nationals arriving in Myanmar must present a medical certificate showing they had no acute respiratory illness (fever, cough or shortness of breath) before boarding their flight. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Department of Civil Aviation also said that all foreign travellers will have to undergo a 14-day facility quarantine.

The government is reminding business owners who wish to apply for emergency loans from a K100 billion fund set up to help deal with the impact of the coronavirus pandemic on Myanmar’s economy that they must submit their applications by April 9. The loans will be directed to business owners who are experiencing difficulties paying their employees in three prioritised sectors – SMEs operating under the piece-work system, travel agencies, hotels, food-production businesses, and commodity trading businesses.

31-Mar-2020 President U Win Myint on Tuesday formed an inter-ministerial committee to coordinate response against the rising COVID-19 cases in the country, which has infected 15 people, including one who died from the deadly disease. The Committee for Corona Virus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) will oversee the emergency response of the government against the disease that has spread to 177 countries. Myanmar has appealed for help from the international community for medical equipment and supplies as the country steps up its efforts to prevent a COVID-19 outbreak.