YANGON: Myanmar's biggest city Yangon has rapidly built new quarantine centres as it scrambles to contain the commercial hub's first significant coronavirus outbreak, with overworked medical staff fearing thousands more cases to come.
The Southeast Asian nation has one of the world's most impoverished healthcare systems, but had until recently remained relatively unscathed by the pandemic.
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Last month there were fewer than 400 total confirmed cases nationwide and just six deaths from the disease.
But rising case numbers in the country's west quickly spread elsewhere and infection numbers have doubled every week.
They are expected to pass 10,000 in the coming days with a current death toll of 174.
READ: Myanmar extends Yangon lockdown after record daily jump in COVID-19 cases
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Yangon has seen the vast majority of patients and is now back under a strict lockdown many fear will devastate the livelihoods of the city's poorest inhabitants.
Around 6,000 people have been quarantined in the city, and state media reported Saturday (Sep 26) that seven new facilities had been built to isolate another 1,000 people.
"We estimate there could be 10,000 more suspected cases out there," said Ye Nyi Nyi Htut, a doctor in a city clinic.
Medical staff around Yangon were "exhausted", he added.
READ: Myanmar rejects calls to postpone election despite COVID-19 surge
Residents have been told to stay at home unless working in certain key industries or shopping for food or medical supplies.
Domestic travel out of the city is forbidden and a ban on international commercial flights has been extended until the end of October.
"GET MEDICAL TESTS"
Myanmar's civilian leader Aung San Suu Kyi has placed herself front and centre in the nation's fight against the disease.
In an address to the nation Friday, she urged the country to ignore the spread of false rumours and "ridiculous" treatments.
"Don't believe that certain foods or drinks could relieve the disease," she said. "Get medical tests at the hospitals."
A leaked letter this week showed the government was even making preparations to "distribute basic foods" to the city's 7 million people, sowing fears an even stricter lockdown could be on the cards.
But Suu Kyi's spokesman Zaw Htay dismissed that possibility, telling reporters Friday that authorities were just making contingency plans for the worst case scenario.
Thousands of people in Yangon Read More – Source
YANGON: Myanmar's biggest city Yangon has rapidly built new quarantine centres as it scrambles to contain the commercial hub's first significant coronavirus outbreak, with overworked medical staff fearing thousands more cases to come.
The Southeast Asian nation has one of the world's most impoverished healthcare systems, but had until recently remained relatively unscathed by the pandemic.
Advertisement
Advertisement
Last month there were fewer than 400 total confirmed cases nationwide and just six deaths from the disease.
But rising case numbers in the country's west quickly spread elsewhere and infection numbers have doubled every week.
They are expected to pass 10,000 in the coming days with a current death toll of 174.
READ: Myanmar extends Yangon lockdown after record daily jump in COVID-19 cases
Advertisement
Advertisement
Yangon has seen the vast majority of patients and is now back under a strict lockdown many fear will devastate the livelihoods of the city's poorest inhabitants.
Around 6,000 people have been quarantined in the city, and state media reported Saturday (Sep 26) that seven new facilities had been built to isolate another 1,000 people.
"We estimate there could be 10,000 more suspected cases out there," said Ye Nyi Nyi Htut, a doctor in a city clinic.
Medical staff around Yangon were "exhausted", he added.
READ: Myanmar rejects calls to postpone election despite COVID-19 surge
Residents have been told to stay at home unless working in certain key industries or shopping for food or medical supplies.
Domestic travel out of the city is forbidden and a ban on international commercial flights has been extended until the end of October.
"GET MEDICAL TESTS"
Myanmar's civilian leader Aung San Suu Kyi has placed herself front and centre in the nation's fight against the disease.
In an address to the nation Friday, she urged the country to ignore the spread of false rumours and "ridiculous" treatments.
"Don't believe that certain foods or drinks could relieve the disease," she said. "Get medical tests at the hospitals."
A leaked letter this week showed the government was even making preparations to "distribute basic foods" to the city's 7 million people, sowing fears an even stricter lockdown could be on the cards.
But Suu Kyi's spokesman Zaw Htay dismissed that possibility, telling reporters Friday that authorities were just making contingency plans for the worst case scenario.
Thousands of people in Yangon Read More – Source
