Myanmar will be able to drastically increase the number of people it tests for Covid-19 by the end of the month thanks to new laboratories and equipment, a senior health official told Myanmar Now.

Health ministry spokesperson Dr Than Naing Soe said testing capacity will increase fivefold with the opening of two new facilities in Mawlamyine and Mandalay and the arrival of a new testing machine.

The country is currently testing about 300 people a day, while the new machine can perform 1,300 tests in 24 hours.

But the extra capacity does not necessarily mean there will be wider testing to include, for example, people with some symptoms but no known contact with a confirmed case.

“We will do more tests if we can,” he said. “Our resources are limited. We now focus only on those who show symptoms and who have been in contact with an infected person. I can’t tell for sure if the policy on testing will change. We still need to hold more discussions.”

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Myanmar’s testing capacity has been held back because of difficulties purchasing equipment, “but the situation is better now,” he added.

The new machine was donated by the Yangon-based AA Medical Products, which ordered it from abroad and expects it to arrive in Myanmar on April 26.

And new laboratories in Mandalay and Mawlamyine will be completed soon, while authorities will receive a testing device and equipment from a Chinese volunteer group that is set to return home on Tuesday.

So far, Myanmar has mostly only tested people who have been in close contact with confirmed Covid-19 patients, as well as about 5-10% of repatriated Myanmar migrants under quarantine, Dr Than Naing Soe said.

Over 4,700 people had received free Covid-19 tests as of April 19, he added. One test costs the state 150,000 kyat plus transportation expense, he added.

Myanmar has 119 Covid-19 cases as of Tuesday. The majority were infected while attending two religious gatherings in Yangon’s Insein and Mayangone townships.

“We can curb the spread of the virus if we avoid large gatherings and the repatriates follow the quarantine rules,” said Dr Than Naing Soe.

He is hopeful Myanmar will be able to avoid an outbreak among a batch of Myanmar nationals returning through Thai border at the end of the month, he added.

“The spread of the virus is not out of control in Thailand. Our repatriates have been under self-quarantine there, and we have not heard any news of them getting infected.” he said.

Five Covid-19 patients have died in Myanmar as of Monday, while seven have recovered and the rest are receiving treatment at hospitals.