A stay-at-home order was imposed in Arakan State’s Gwa Township on August 25 in an attempt to control the spread of Covid-19, but the virus infection rate in the township has not dropped for about a week now.
The Covid-19 order stated that locals would be allowed to go outside only from 5 a.m. to 12 noon, and would not be allowed to leave their homes for any reason other than health-related.
Except for groceries and pharmacies, shops would be allowed to open from 5 a.m. to 12 noon. Social organisations in Gwa Township say the order could cause livelihood hardship for the grassroots.
U Hla Thein, an information officer and attorney-general for the Arakan State military government, wrote on his Facebook page on August 31 that the Covid-19 infection rate has not been reduced in Gwa Township, although security forces are cooperating with departmental officials and local people to enforce the stay-at-home order.
As of August 31, a total of 797 coronavirus cases and 19 related deaths were reported in Gwa Township during the pandemic’s ongoing third wave.
The Arakan State military council decided at a meeting on August 31 to set up the necessary district-level departments from September 3 to identify and fix the Covid-19 control vulnerabilities in Gwa Township if there is no reduction in virus infections in the area.
“There are many virus-positive patients in Gwa Township and we are conducting a contact-tracing process. The Covid-19 patients are quarantined and action is being taken against those who violate the virus-related regulations,” said Dr. Soe Win Paing, an assistant director of the Arakan State Department of Public Health.
There are also concerns that locals in Gwa Township will face difficulties if the existing local order is extended.
“The number of virus-positive patients in Gwa Township is normal. Locals are allowed to go outside only from 5 a.m. to 12 noon, making it difficult for the grassroots to make ends meet. The grassroots will likely face livelihood hardships in the long run due to the order,” said Ko Kyaw Myint Maung, chairperson of the Htarwaya Myittar funeral service, a local charity group assisting in virus prevention efforts in the township.
Three people arrested on August 26 for violating a local order imposed in Gwa Township were sentenced to one month in prison each under Section 188 of the Penal Code.
The three detained people are one resident of Ra Hine Kuto village in Gwa Township and two men from Ayeyarwady Region, who were staying in Gwa Township’s Daung Chaung village.
