The Ministry of Commerce is working hard to ensure people have access to essential medical supplies which are critical to the COVID-19 prevention, control and treatment activities, including liquid oxygen and oxygen cylinders, arranging the continuous importation on public holidays.
Yesterday, a total of 2,296 oxygen concentrators were imported via airways at the Yangon International Airport. In addition, 38.11 tonnes of liquid oxygen, 5,875 empty oxygen containers, 4 oxygen plants, 895 oxygen concentrators, 28,800 PPE suits, 2 tonnes of gloves and 58 tonnes of masks were imported through border trade points, including 30,000 PPE suits from the international port.
A total of 784 tonnes of liquid oxygen, 66 tonnes of oxygen cylinders, 83,679 tonnes of empty oxygen containers, 20 oxygen plants, 10 oxygen generators, 64,849 oxygen concentrators, 150,268 test kits, 400,652 PPE suits, 60 tonnes of gloves and 907 tonnes of masks have been imported by far in August.
Of 65 liquid oxygen browsers imported between July and 12 August, 48 of them were distributed to Yangon, 11 to Mandalay, 2 to Bago, 3 to Mawlamyine and 1 to Thaton, respectively. Among 28 oxygen plants, 4 were transported to Yangon, 5 to Lashio, 4 to Bago, 2 each to Pakokku, Mandalay, Hpa-an and Mawlamyine, one each to Taunggyi, Thanpyuzayat, Magway, Dawei, Wakema, Myittha and Kyaukpadaung respectively.
The Ministry on 8 August announced that the border trade points will not be suspended from work on declared public holidays, from 9 to 15 August, and import operations will be conducted as usual. The importation of COVID-19 devices will be allowed in accordance with the SOP priority, negotiated by relevant departments, and online import license application will also be allowed as usual during the office hours.—MNA
