“Our party has stopped the election campaign due to the spread of COVID-19. We may get infected with the virus,” said U Sai Naing Naing Kyaw who has registered to run for the Upper House Parliament from Shan-ni Solidarity Party (SSP) in Kawlin township in Sagaing Region.

According to the statement by the Ministry of Health and Sports on September 19, a woman who returned to Homalin Township from Tamwe Township in Yangon tested positive for the COVID-19.

This makes a total of 25 confirmed cases in the Sagaing Region. Another positive case was detected in the nearby Kawlin township. 

The Kawlin Township Election Sub-Commission had directed the political parties to stop their election campaigns, after a COVID-19 confirmed case was reported in their township in Sagaing Region on September 13.

 

On September 20, the sub-commission allowed the parties to resume their election campaigns in conformity with the health measures, according to the post of the Chair of the Kawlin Township Election Sub-Commission. 

 

The other confirmed case of COVID-19 detected in Homalin Township, did not result in any suspension of canvassing according to the Homalin Township Election Sub-Commission in Sagaing region U Tun Shwe, Chair of Homalin Township Election Sub-Commission said: “The sub-commission has received requests in favor of canvassing. The sub-commission has no plan to bar them from canvassing.”