Covid-19 cases in Manaung Township, Arakan State, rose to 21 and two people here died on July 19-20 as the statewide death toll surpassed 50 during the pandemic’s ongoing third wave.

A 65-year-old man who had an underlying illness died on July 19, according to Manaung Township Hospital’s superintendent, Dr. U Saw Min. The man was admitted to the hospital in critical condition and died on Monday morning though he was provided supplemental oxygen throughout the previous night, Dr. U Saw Min said.

On July 20, a 75-year-old woman died, he said.

“A woman died today. She had diabetes. And she was too old to resist the disease. She was admitted to the hospital three days ago and had been provided oxygen supplements since then. But her oxygen level did not return to normal,” Dr. U Saw Min told DMG.

Four of Manaung Township’s 21 Covid-19 patients were being provided supplemental oxygen treatment on Tuesday.

Statewide, 13 people died of Covid-19 on July 19 alone, pushing the third-wave death toll in Arakan State past 50. On Sunday, fatalities during the third wave of the virus exceeded those of the first two waves combined.

Cases of the virus have been reported across all 17 Arakan State townships since the third wave began in late May. As of July 18, confirmed deaths attributed to Covid-19 totalled 11 in Sittwe Township; 18 in Taungup Township, eight in Thandwe Township, six in Maungdaw Township, five in Kyaukphyu Township, and one each in Pauktaw, Kyauktaw, Mrauk-U, Gwa, Manaung and Rathedaung townships.

Deaths from Covid-19 in Arakan State on Monday alone were four in Sittwe Township, three in Taungup Township, two in Kyaukphyu Township, and one each in Thandwe, Pauktaw, Kyauktaw and Manaung townships.

Quarantine centres have been set up to house visitors to Arakan State from townships under stay-at-home orders, and police are now training their sights on public alcohol consumption, said U Hla Thein, a member of the Arakan State Administration Council.

“We will quarantine those who come from the areas where stay-at-home orders have been in place. In addition, those who do not wear masks when going outside are fined. Police are also prosecuting those who drink alcohol on public streets,” he told DMG.

Since the latest wave of coronavirus first hit Myanmar, Arakan State had reported 1,542 cases and 54 deaths as of July 19.