July 07, 2020

State Counsellor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi wrote that after half a year of the COVID period, everyone at home and abroad should continue their cooperative efforts to show that we are stronger than COVID and that we are endowed with superior strength to survive on her Facebook page yesterday. This was what she wrote:

According to the latest data received since yesterday, there are (24,304) persons still under quarantine; all over the country there are (6,195) quarantine centres; those who are coming back from abroad: Kachin, Kayah, Taninthayi, Shan, Yangon airport, still continue to make up a total of over (1,000) per day.

We understand that those who are living abroad wish to return quickly; however, if we permitted them to return “en masse” without proper arrangements, we would not be able to provide them with the necessary health care. Because infected persons are included among the returnees, we not only have to make arrangements for monitoring and inspection but also have to consider providing treatment if needed. As more persons return home, not only do we have to consider the fact that there might not be enough quarantine centres, we also have to make preparations to ensure that we have sufficient hospitals, medicines, medical staff and healthcare workers.

In the interest of everyone, we have restricted the number of flights coming into the country. Those citizens who are waiting to return please be patient. Don’t think that the rules are too restrictive. In some countries, they still have infected persons to the tune of 10,000 per day.

We have passed half a year of the COVID period. Everyone at home and abroad should continue their cooperative efforts to show that we are stronger than COVID and that we are endowed with superior strength to survive. (Translated by Kyaw Myaing)