The vaccination must cover the areas of EAOs, border areas and ethnic nationals while raising health awareness of COVID-19 and other diseases, said Chairman of the State Administration Council Prime Minister of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar Senior General Min Aung Hlaing at the 13th meeting of the COVID-19 prevention, control and treatment at Bayintnaung Villa in Nay Pyi Taw yesterday morning.
In his address related to prevention, control and treatment activities of the COVID-19, the Senior General said, “We formed the central committee for the control of COVID-19. But the important persons only were invited to the meeting. In July, the number of people who suffered from the pandemic increased. I said it last meeting. There were 7,083 positive patients on 14 July, accounting for 33.17 per cent, compared with 5,506 on 23 July, accounting for 40.08 per cent. The central committee holds the weekly meetings. On a daily basis, the vice-chairman led the supervision for the preventive measures and the government effectively carried out the tasks. On the other hand, the people emphasized preventive measures. They abided by the health restrictions and helped provide requirements such as medicines, protective equipment and oxygen. Well-wishers bought the inputs from abroad. Their efforts remarkably reflected the work process. Yesterday, the infection rate of the disease was down to more than four per cent. I have told my target to reduce the infection rate to reach five per cent on 24 October and three per cent on 31 October. Now, the percentage reaches four. So, it is necessary to further decline the infection rate.”
Due to the outbreak of COVID-19, the stay-at-home programme was implemented to restrict travelling and close the offices. Now, as the infection rate declines, some townships were removed from the list of stay-at-home programmes and staff members are allowed to offices as usual. As part of efforts to open schools, students aged 12 and above are vaccinated.
It is necessary to consider the resumption of operations at suspended education and production machinery as well as the transport machinery under the limit at a time when the infection rate declines. Such operations cannot be conducted around the country but some regions and states can resume the operations. Moreover, it is necessary to focus on the resumption of airlines, railways and bus lines step by step.
So far, the people accounting for 35 per cent have been vaccinated. If so, more than 50 per cent of the people can be vaccinated in December. The authorities need to consider allowing the travelling of the vaccinated people and visits of those from foreign countries. Moreover, the Senior General stressed the need to consider the measures not to infect the people more.
Concerning the production of the COVID-19 vaccine, the Senior General said, “We are trying hard to produce COVID-19 vaccines. We hold meetings with Chinese authorities as well as Russian ones. Yesterday, the delegation from Russia told me how they can do the production. So, we need to carry out such tasks as much as possible as it is a long term plan. Now, we purchase vaccines. China sells it. If China does not supply it to me, we cannot reach this situation of controlling the disease. So, I on behalf of Myanmar express thanks to China for the supply of the vaccines to Myanmar in time. Whatever it may be, the death rate declined in Myanmar due to the outbreak of the pandemic. Such a rate was high in July. Yesterday, the death rate showed just two digits, just more than ten. It is very satisfactory. Some countries face high infection and death rates while our country embraces the plummeted rates for both. It may be based on good fortune. In fact, we have to live together with this disease. No country says the disease would totally disappear. So, we need to accept vaccines once six months. There remain the children and adults who have not received the vaccine yet. The WHO and the FDA of the United States of America recommended that children can receive the vaccine. So, we will require more and more vaccines. In the coming year, we need to receive the vaccination every six months. So, we need to produce the vaccine at home without fail. We must produce some four to five million doses per month in minimum. So, we need to carefully calculate such amount.”
The government spent billions of kyat on the prevention of the disease alone. People need to take care of their health to reduce the spending of State funds, while the government must strive for earning income by increasing trade and production. Regions and states need to focus on increasing production.
Then, the meeting participants discussed easing the townships from the list of stay-at-home programmes, plan to allow holding of festivities, allowing of travelling, running of international flights in the country, serving the office tasks with full strengths, installation of RT-PCR machines in border towns, preparation for control of the fourth wave, research to produce the COVID-19 vaccine with the use of traditional medicines, raising health awareness of the disease via newspapers, TV channels and radios, vaccinations for target groups, production of vaccines from China and Russia in Myanmar through ready to fill, resumption of aviation, marine and road transport services, vaccinations for students from universities, and inspection of infection in townships under the spot check.
In his response to the reports, the Senior General said if efforts can be made to reduce the infection rate in border regions rather than now, trade flow will be swift and businesses smooth. Hence, vaccines must be sent to border areas to control the infection rate.
Since the assumption of the State responsibilities, the government has been releasing the true information on the outbreak of the COVID-19, the number of patients under medical examination, the number of positive patients and the death rate until today.
Preparations must be made for prevention and control of the fourth wave of the pandemic, deployment of health staff, oxygen and hospital equipment. Airlines must be allowed under SOPs. Relief flights must be run to transport foreign returnees, medicines and medical equipment. Vaccines must be purchased more for fully vaccinating 50 per cent of the total population at the end of 2021.
In his conclusion, the Senior General said that figures on infection of the disease must be accurate to be able to correctly analyze the control and prevention of the disease. Since the assumption of the State responsibilities, the government has been releasing the true information on the outbreak of the COVID-19, the number of patients under medical examination, the number of positive patients and the death rate until today. Townships and wards/villages need to monitor the infection of the disease without losing sight.
The vaccination must cover the areas of EAOs, border areas and ethnic nationals while raising health awareness of COVID-19 and other diseases. — MNA
