Yan Lin Aung — A 24-year-old has been confirmed to have coronavirus (COVID-19) and has been sent to the Mawlamyine public hospital. This is the 27th officially confirmed case.

According to the Mon State Minister for Security and Border Affairs, Col. Nay Htut Oo, neighbouring houses to where the patient was living has been locked down.

The Chief Minister’s issued instructions not to lock down the whole village, but just those houses nearby [the patient’s house].  Five houses on each side are to be locked down.

Both the government and Township Administrator have been assigned this task.

Eight people from the patients’ neighborhood will be quarantined at the hospital.

Eight members of the patient’s family have also been quarantined at the Kyaikmaraw hospital. Another six people from Kyoon-Yuwr village, and eight people from Kyat-Khet village, who were in contact with the patient, have been sent to the Mawlamyine hospital where they are being monitored for signs of the infection.

The patient apparently went to Thailand to look for a job and had been hospitalized for an abdominal pain problem for about a month. On March 20, upon returning to Kyaikmaraw Township via Myawaddy Township, the patient was home quarantined.

On March 29th the patient went into a quarantine facility and  was transferred the next day, to the Kyaikmaraw hospital.

According to the U Aung Kyaw Thu, a parliamentary member of Thaton District Hluttaw, some individuals have not been truthful about their travel history.  For example it was discovered that one hospital quarantined patient lied about their travel history to Thailand. That individual died at Thaton District Traditional Hospital today at 9:15 a.m.

U Ang Kyaw Thu said “the deceased patient lied about his travel history. [He] did not report his return from Thailand and his symptoms to the hospital, he went to an outside clinic instead. He was sent to the hospital when his condition did not get better, and he still lied about his travel history.  We checked yesterday, and it was clear that he had come back from Thailand, so we sent him to the Hospital Quarantine Department at Traditional Hospital. He passed away this morning.”

He added a throat swab from the deceased was sent to the Laboratory in Yangon to be tested for COVID-19. The results will be released tonight.

As of April 10, 27 people have tested positive for the COVID-19 in Myanmar. There are two recovered cases, and three fatalities.