Officials from the Department of Rural Development made field trips to construction of a rural water supply task and a rural road in Thazi Township, Mandalay Region on 21 March.

MYANMAR still claims to have avoided the corona-virus pandemic despite being surrounded by three countries battling  the  virus,  including  China  where  the  outbreak  started. As of Friday evening, 176 suspected cases have been tested since January, with none having  returned  a  positive  result,  according  to  the  gov-ernment. Additionally, 12 sus-pected cases are still awaiting test  results,  the  latest  health  ministry update said. Although no  confirmed  case  has  been  identified,  the  authorities  are  taking measures to prevent the virus from gaining a foothold in the country.

The first passenger train with South Korean-made passenger coaches aided with air-conditioners and air suspension left Mandalay for Myitkyina at Mandalay Railway Station yesterday afternoon. Union Minister U Thant Sin Maung and officials cordially greeted and presented gifts to the passengers of the Mandalay-Myitkyina 31 Up train that departed the statin at 1 pm.

Thailand has suspended 3 port borders, through which bilateral trades are going on, between Kawthoung in Myanmar and Ranong in Thailand starting from the early morning of 20 March, Thai Ministry of Public Health announced.

Union Minister for Information Dr Pe Myint delivered his address at the work coordination meeting of Centre for Myanmar Affairs Studies in Yangon yesterday morning.

Kayin State in the southeast of Myanmar began its wide-scale COVID-19 prevention awareness campaign on 20 March, with the involvement of the personnel of the General Administration Department.