COVID-19

Britain warns COVID-19 could infect half of Myanmar in next two weeks

Reuters

This is AI generated summarization, which may have errors. For context, always refer to the full article.

Britain warns COVID-19 could infect half of Myanmar in next two weeks

COVID-19 CRISIS. Volunteers in protective suits carry a COVID-19 patient lying on a hospital bed as they try to relocate patients who are dependent on oxygen from the COVID-19 center due to the flood in Myawaddy, Karen state, Myanmar, July 26, 2021, in this handout imaged obtained by Reuters on July 27, 2021.

Karen Information Center/Handout via Reuters

Myanmar has 54 million people, and has been in chaos since the military ousted an elected government led by Aung San Suu Kyi on February 1

Britain’s UN ambassador warned on Thursday, July 30, that half of Myanmar’s 54 million people could be infected with COVID-19 in the next two weeks as Myanmar’s envoy called for UN monitors to ensure an effective delivery of vaccines.

Myanmar has been in chaos since the military ousted an elected government led by Aung San Suu Kyi on February 1, with protests and fighting between the army and newly formed militias. The United States, Britain, and others have imposed sanctions on the military rulers over the coup and repression of pro-democracy protests in which hundreds have been killed.

“The coup has resulted in a near total collapse of the healthcare system, and health care workers are being attacked and arrested,” British UN Ambassador Barbara Woodward told an informal Security Council discussion on Myanmar.

“The virus is spreading through the population, very fast indeed. By some estimates, in the next two weeks, half of the population of Myanmar could be infected with COVID,” she said.

Myanmar state media reported on Wednesday that the military ruler is looking for greater cooperation with other countries to contain the coronavirus.

Infections in the Southeast Asian country have surged since June, with 4,980 cases and 365 deaths reported on Wednesday, July 28, according to health ministry data cited in media. Medics and funeral services put the toll much higher.

Must Read

Myanmar junta seeks international cooperation over COVID-19 crisis

Myanmar junta seeks international cooperation over COVID-19 crisis

“In order to have smooth and effective COVID vaccination and providing humanitarian assistance, close monitoring by the international community is essential,” Myanmar’s UN Ambassador Kyaw Moe Tun, who speaks for the elected civilian government, told the Security Council discussion.

“As such, we would like to request the UN in particular the Security Council to urgently establish a UN-led monitoring mechanism for effective COVID vaccination and smooth delivery of humanitarian assistance,” he said.

Myanmar recently received two million more Chinese vaccines, but it was believed to have only vaccinated about 3.2% of its population, according to a Reuters tracker. – Rappler.com

Add a comment

Sort by

There are no comments yet. Add your comment to start the conversation.

Summarize this article with AI

How does this make you feel?

Loading
Download the Rappler App!