THE variant COVID-19 pandemic is still imposing threats on the global people while killing one after another. At present, some 200 million global people are infected by the disease, and more than four million people lost their lives. The infection rate is ten more times than in the past, and the death rate, three more per cent. Hence, all Myanmar people need to take special care of the infection.

Among Southeast Asian countries, Indonesia is top with infection rate. The remaining countries also face increasing infection and death rates. In fact, the infection rate and death rate are still high in developing countries because vaccination coverage reached just one per cent. The countries with declining infection rates are based on high vaccination coverage. Although vaccines can affect disease prevention to some extent, primarily, individuals need to have preventive measures with a conscience.

Vaccination in Myanmar is not yet to cover the whole country. In Myanmar, the healthcare system was weak based on the political changes when the third wave of COVID-19 broke out. So, those with COVID-19 disease missed a chance to seek reliable health staff. Dutiful health staff are providing healthcare services to the people as much as they can.

If someone is infected by COVID-19, they need to live in isolation at home even though they lose the smell. It is necessary to set personal goods and foods for the patient separately.

Everybody should take care of scentlessness, body pain and headache, which are symptoms of COVID-19. If so, not only patients but also family members need to use protective equipment, wash hands several times, fully eat meals, sleep soundly and do breathing exercises as part of health-supporting movements without fail.

Anyone suffering from scentlessness, weakness and diarrhoea need to receive a medical checkup at nearby health units. As COVID-19 is a disease affecting the respiratory tracks, patients can suffer from suffocation. Normally, everybody must have 92-95 points of oxygen. If they face declining oxygen under 90 points, it is necessary to take care of it specially.

That is why everybody needs to protect their mouths, noses and eyes, which are the entrance of the disease. They all have to wash their hands often. Take an adequate distance among them. Take care of your health conditions, too._GNLM