As of now, COVID disease has been in our country for quite some time. Because of the prolonged period, I can understand that this has caused stress for our people. However, at this time, it is important for our people to understand that it is necessary to take extraordinary care. At the present moment, the number of people who have tested positive with the COVID disease is over 90,000, and it is getting near to the 100,000 marks. This is quite significant. Therefore please note this fact carefully. In the post-election period, within a period of more than one week, we estimated that the infection rate would increase because the people started to gather in crowds. The infection rate went up just as we had estimated.
Apart from that during the Tazaungdine holidays, there had been instances of people gathering in crowds. We will surely see the effect of these crowds. This is something which could not be avoided. We have said this repeatedly. Please wear masks when you go outside. Please wash your hand regularly. We told people to practice social distancing and to stay apart from other people at least six feet apart as much as possible. However, people have not followed these rules and regulations. Their compliance level has been low. That is why we have seen a slight increase in the infection rate in the states and divisions, in fact, in the whole country. When we say a slight increase, actually it is quite considerable. In order to drive home the point to our people, I wish to quote some facts and figures. We have to give medical treatment in the case of a citizen or even a foreigner who is visiting our country. If a person gets infected with the disease, if we have to provide medical treatment, the cost is between K15 to K20 lakhs. This represents the direct costs as well as indirect costs. This is for one person. If the situation gets critical, the cost is between K25 to K50 lakhs. This is the total cost when we add up direct costs as well as indirect costs. So please think about this. In our country as the number of infected persons is now over 90,000 and getting near the 100,000 figure, you can imagine how much money we have spent on medical costs; as we have said earlier, if we had to spend between K15 to K20 lakhs for a normal patient, this is equivalent to the amount of money we would have to spend to provide vaccines to 300 patients when we get these vaccines.
We don’t have the vaccines yet. Even if the vaccines are available, we would have to buy in competition with other countries. Donations make up a certain amount. However, we would have to buy the bulk of these vaccines. When we have to buy where will the money come from? It will come from the Union treasury. At the present when we are providing medical treatment to COVID patients, all these costs are being paid from the Union treasury. The Union government gets money from the people to put in the Union treasury. Therefore, although we are expending money for the people we had to spend money for unavoidable reasons not where this money should be spent. The cost of providing medical treatment to infected persons (if the infection is not critical) can be used to provide vaccines for 300 persons.
The expense of medical services for each critical case is equivalent to the cost of the vaccine for 1,000 persons. Moreover, the average quarantine cost for each person who had contact with a positive case is about Ks.600,000. The considerable amount of this budget expenditure could not be used for other issues. We need to work for the economic recovery of the country in the post-COVID-19, and the country would also need to rehabilitate economy. If we could use medical treatment budgets in the economic recovery plan, it will benefit the country and the people in the long term.
Everybody should consider it. We have frequently reminded that 65 per cent of positive cases do not show symptoms; and that, they might feel well. Most of these persons are middle-age persons with good health conditions without showing any symptoms. However, the virus can spread to others. The infected persons might have any underlying disease and poor health conditions.
Moreover, it is needed to have constant vigilance because these elderly persons are also vulnerable to the infection and could suffer life-threatening complications.
The death toll has passed 1,900. The exact and updated figure is 1,998. It can be expected that the number would reach over 2,000 tomorrow. The death of each person cannot be substituted with anything, although the cost for medical treatment could be estimated at about 1.5 million, 2 million, 2.5 million or 5 million kyats. However, human life is invaluable. Therefore if you lose a family member or a close friend, because of your fault, how can you substitute for this loss? If you lose someone who is not from your family or nor your friend and this happened in another family or among their friends, how would you substitute for this loss? This loss is invaluable. You cannot put a monetary value to this loss.
Therefore, everybody needs to have constant vigilance. The cool season has set in with a cool climate. We have already reminded that the disease can spread more easily under this condition. We wish to remind you again. Tazaungdine holidays have ended, and it is closer to the Christmas and New Year events. It is very important not to have gatherings. It is an unavoidable fact that the infection will spread as soon as a crowd forms. It is not possible to stay 6-ft apart from each other in the crowd, while some persons would not wear their masks in the crowd. Although the mask gives you some protection, it cannot guarantee 100 per cent protection in the tight areas. Therefore, constant vigilance is needed to prevent crowds from forming. The pandemic has broken out since March. In December, it has been 9 months. Actually, this 9-month period is much shorter than our future. There is no future for the dead. The 9-month is nothing compared with having no future.
Therefore, try to keep vigilant at present. We will have to make strenuous efforts for our country to recover in the following years. I understand that our people have a sense of duty. However, this attitude occasionally can vary because mental ability would decline in the long term. However, this ability must be strengthened. I still remember the advice of a Sayadaw (senior Buddhist monk) that moral disciplines need to be observed strictly although it can come loose like the sarong on the waist. The sarong will not cling tightly on the waist the whole day. It needs to be tightened. Similarly, moral disciplines must be maintained when they begin to come lax.
Therefore, the disciplines must be enforced against if it is needed for the well-being of the public. No one can imagine who would be the next victim of COVID-19. Carelessness could lead to full of remorse. The government could not do anything for regret. Therefore, please be vigilant. Controlling oneself means protecting others, their own future and the country. The government has spent tens of thousands, millions kyats up to now. Money did not fall down from the sky. It was taken from the state budget from allocations meant for the country and the people. We will put more financial resources into the economic recovery plan next year with public contributions and more state funds as much as possible for a better trajectory in the post-COVID-19 period. That’s why everyone needs to join hands and participate in starting from now.
We must compete with the whole world. When the COVID-19 vaccine comes out, all the countries will rush to buy it. After the vaccination programme, everyone will focus on the economic recovery plans. If we want to be the front-runner in this race, we need human resources and financial resources. So as not to lose our human and financial resources unnecessarily, I request everyone to follow the COVID-19 rules strictly. As the present year is about to end soon, try to leave behind your weariness and boredom in the old year, so that we may face the New Year with fresh and renewed spirits. Be happy and be healthy. Thank you.—MNA
(Translated by Kyaw Myaing, Aung Khin)
