Submitted by moiuser on 1 September 2021

CONTINUED FROM

YESTERDAY

From  12  to  31  July,  when  cases of the deadly delta variant  of  COVID-19  surged  nationwide,  Myanmar  imported  1,476  tonnes  of  liquid  oxygen,  114 tonnes of oxygen cylinders, 69,146 tonnes of home oxygen concentrators,  322,878  test  kits,  1,104  tonnes  of  masks,  eight oxygen plants, 11 oxygen generators  and  four oxygen  refilling machines.

Tatmadaw  hospitals  and  temporary  emergency  hospitals  were  able  to  provide  healthcare services to a total of 276,181 outpatients and 80,718 inpatients from 5 February to 31  July.  In  addition,  the  Tatmadaw  medical  corps  helped  out  by  providing  services  in  public hospitals that had been undermined  by  a  shortage  of  staff due to doctors and nurses leaving  their  patients  to  join  the  civil  disobedience  movement.

The Ministry of Social Welfare, Relief and Resettlement and the Ministry of Home Affairs  coordinated  with  volunteers  and  charitable  organizations to prevent and control the  resurgence  of  disease  in  regions and states. The COVID-19 Control and Emergency Response  Committee  urged and  mobilized  the  public  to   donate  essential  COVID -19   devices,  medicines  and  foods   directly  to  hospitals,  quarantine  centres  and  COVID -19  treatment centres in need.

All  schools  were  closed  from 9 to 23 July and later extended  until  8  August,  as  the  COVID-19 delta variant cases continued  rising  precipitously.  In  addition,  the  State  Administration Council declared public  holidays  from  17  July  to  1  August,  in  conjunction  with  public  holidays,  and  enforced stay-at-home orders to control disease transmission. Officials  from  the  relevant  ministries  are  loosening  regulations and striving to make sure that imports of essential medical  supplies  go  smoothly  even  on  public  holidays,  at  airports, seaports and border trade towns such as Myawady, Tachileik and Chinshwehaw.

To  meet  the  needs  for  medical  oxygen,  two  oxygen  plants  under  the  Myanmar  Economic  Corporation  have  been  producing  149,000  cubic  feet of oxygen each day, while Myaung  Tagar  oxygen  plant  has been producing 12,000 cubic  feet  of  oxygen  each  day.  As  well,  the  1,000-bed  hospital,  300-bed  hospital  and  300-bed Tatmadaw Obstetrics and Gynaecology  and  Children’s  Hospital in Nay Pyi Taw have been installed oxygen plants.

Since 13 July, the Ministry of  Health  has  been  strengthening  the  healthcare  system  through  the  recr uitment  of  nurses  and  doctors  on  a  contract  basis  in  hospitals  and  COVID-19 treatment centres. COVID -19  call  centres  have  been  set  up  to  receive  calls  from the public from 8 am to 9 pm every day. The government has licensed reputable private hospitals and laboratories for COVID-19 diagnostics so that the  public  will  have  a  wider  range of options.

The National Strategic Investment Corporation (NSIC) bought  a  shipment  of  30,000  Remdesivir, a drug used for the treatment of COVID-19 worth K3  billion  from  India  and  donated them  to  the  people  of  Myanmar  through  the  State  Administration  Council.  The  shipment  arrived  on  20  July. 

Additionally, in July, Myanmar received a total of three million doses  of  COVID-19  vaccines,  comprising  two  million  doses  of  Sinopharm  donated  by  the  People’s Republic of China and one  million  doses  of  Sinovac  purchased by Myanmar. Since 26 July, vaccines were administered to priority groups, including  senior  citizens,  frontline  health  workers,  monks  and  prison inmates.

Public   information   an d  media developments

The  following  announcement  is  placed  regularly  in  national newspapers. With the exception of those who  had  committed  murder  and  deliberate  destr uction,  citizens  in  hiding  or  on  the  run  or  are  stranded  in  other  places for various reasons are invited  by  the  State  Administration Council to return home. In return, the authorities will exercise  leniency,  including  the  dropping  of  charges  and  the closure and withdrawal of their cases  under the law.

The State Administration Council's  Information  Team held  its  seventh  press  conference on 12 July 2021. Head  of  the  Information  Team  Major-General Zaw Min Tun and Member of the Union Election Commission  U  Khin  Maung  Oo responded to the questions raised  by  the  media  on  the  points presented, such as the COVID-19  control  plans,  the  testimony of criminals arrested for the terrorist attacks and the latest findings of the Union Election Commission. Also in July, numerous media inquiries  to  the  press  release  team  were continually answered by telephone to ensure accurate information for the public.

Snapshots of other sectors

Events  of  note  in  July  were as follows:

  • On 13 July, the State Sangha Maha Nayaka Committee held its Eighth Plenary Meeting,  which  was  attended by 47 State Sangha Maha Nayaka Committee members  in  Yangon,  who  discussed religious affairs.  „
  • The  Myanmar  Women’s  Day  event  was  held  on  3  July, and the State Administration  Council  Chairman sent a video message to  the  event  urging  all  to  work  together  to  empower  Myanmar  women  to  secure  the  future  of  new  generations. „
  • On 19 July, the 74th Martyrs Day  Ceremony  was  held  and  attended  by  military  and departmental officials, to pay tribute to the fallen martyrs including General Aung  San.  The  ceremony  was  held  in  accordance  with  COVID -19  regulations.
  • Officials  from  Myanmar  and  Laos  discussed  the  repatriation  of  Myanmar  migrant  workers  stranded in Laos and agreed on their repatriation on July 30 and August 1.  „
  • The  99th  International  Cooperative Day was celebrated  on  3  July.  There  are a total of about 40,000 cooperative societies comprising  4.2  million  members. Plans are underway to  reform,  improve  and  moder nize  the  production,  trading,  and  service  industries. „
  • The  Union  Minister  for  Science  and  Technology  inspected  the  Research  and  Innovation  Department in Yangon on 6 July, and spoke about the need for  enhancing  research  activities,  and  promoting  technology  transfer  and  cooperation related to renewable energy.
  • It  was  announced  that  previously  unregistered  motorcycles  must  register within 30 days starting from 7 July under the OneStop  Services  plan.  The  measure is expected to reduce crimes committed by motorcycle riders and improve  transportation  and  safety for the lawabiding public.  „
  • Displaced  persons  in  the  respective  regions  and  states  are  being  provided with household census and citizenship by the Pan Khin project.  „
  • In the industrial sector, a USD 5 million investment in garment manufacturing based  on  the  CMP  (Cutting, Making, and Packing) system  was  launched  on  7 July. This is expected to create more than 800 local jobs. In addition, the Yangon  Region  Investment  Committee  has  given  its  decision  on  submissions  of 14 companies.
  • Myanma  Insurance  has  made  it  possible  to  pay  online  for  various  types  of insurance since 8 July.  „
  • The Internal Revenue Department is  also  providing online services for  the quarterly commercial tax  return  and  quarterly  special commodity tax. „
  • A workshop on rehabilitation of the industrial sector was  held  at  the  Ministry  of  Industry  on  9  July  to  identify ways to reform the operations  of  suspended  state-owned factories. 
  • The Ministry of Hotels and Tourism  is  coordinating  plans  for  tourism  development, and licensing and management issues, with a  view  to  promoting  safe  travelling in the “new normal” situation. 
  • Efforts  are  being  made  to  expand   the   use   of   high-quality  agricultural  equipment and to promote agro-technology.  „
  • During  the  third  wave  of  COVID-19  in  the  country,  the Ministry of Transport and  Communications  is undertaking public transportation services via rail, air and road in accordance with the health guidelines. „
  • The rainy season has triggered  floods  and  assistance  is  being  provided  to  flood  victims  in  the  affected  regions.  People  are  urged  to  contact  the  Disaster Management Department in various areas to seek assistance.

Overall,  the  sixth  month  of  the  State  Administration  Council has centred on efforts to  respond  to  the  COVID-19  emergency. Despite the many challenges, the State Administration Council is continuing to work hard to control the pandemic while promoting measures  to  ensure  stability  and  security  and  accelerate  the  country’s  return  to  normalcy  as  soon  as  possible.  Clearly,  these efforts are being undertaken  in  the  best  interests  of  the people.

 

By Kanaung

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