Myanmar has recorded another record number of Covid-19 cases, as well as 42 more deaths, with its already struggling healthcare system lying in tatters as the military junta continues its assault against medical workers defying its rule.
There were 2,969 news cases logged on Monday, which topped a record of 2,318 set the day before and brought the total number of infections since the start of the pandemic to 168,374, with a total of 3,461 deaths.
Monday’s death toll was lower than the previous record of 48 set on October 11 last year, but that figure looked set to rise as doctors warned the country was now dealing with higher infection rates from new variants of the virus.
Many medics who oppose the junta have been forced into hiding, including scores who face arrest warrants for their involvement in the Civil Disobedience Movement.
Last month the junta detained the former head of the Covid-19 vaccine rollout and charged her with high treason after she became a prominent leader in the anti-coup movement.
Medics and others have refused to be vaccinated under the regime to signal that they reject its legitimacy.
With much of the population in open revolt against its rule, the coup regime has been unable to properly govern the country amid spiralling violence in cities and rural areas across the country.
It is therefore unclear how an effective national strategy to contain the latest outbreak could work.
One doctor said the proportion of his patients dying from the disease had increased because of new variants.
“Now that the virus has mutated, the mortality rate of the disease has skyrocketed,” said Dr Kyaw Min Tun, who works at a free clinic treating coronavirus patients in Yangon.
“Many of our clinic’s patients had low blood oxygen levels on arrival. We had to try our best to give them the fastest and most efficient treatment possible,” he added.
Just before the February 1 coup, Myanmar had brought a surge of cases under control. After the power grab, testing and vaccinations were severely disrupted as healthcare workers went on strike and the junta responded with threats, arrests, and brutal violence.
It is possible that many cases went unrecorded in the following weeks and months as the official seven-day average hovered at around 20 cases per day.
In early June, recorded cases began to spike again. Cases have been rising in Yangon, Mandalay, Pathein, Myaungmya, Sittwe and Maungdaw. People have also tested positive in Myaungmya and Pathein in Ayeyarwady Region, and Buthidaung and Maungdaw in Rakhine.
One Yangon resident told Myanmar Now that although three of their relatives were badly sick with coronavirus symptoms, they have decided to stay home.
“The reason we’re not going to hospitals is that even if we did… they wouldn’t have any space for us and then, there’s going to be multiple transfers between hospitals, and on top of all that many of the hospitals are not accepting patients if they have lost their sense of smell,” the resident said.
“Therefore, we are just choosing to consult with the doctors we know and treat the patients at home under their guidelines,” they added.
The military council has said it plans to replace healthcare workers who have gone on strike and been forced into hiding.
On Sunday evening, the military council issued a stay-at-home order in Pathein, Myaungmya and Thabaung townships, which included an order to close schools.
In recent days more than 150 border guard police and their family members have tested positive for the virus in Rakhine State.
