Medical experts have described the current COVID-19 situation in Myanmar as “catastrophic” due to a surge of cases that brought the current active case count to a record high of 70,070.
The highly transmissible Delta variant is considered as the dominant variant in Myanmar, which has driven high hospital and oxygen supply utilization. Data from the country’s Ministry of Health and Sports show that their death toll is now at 5,814.
The Philippine Embassy in Myanmar has already expressed concern on the home quarantine system for COVID-19 patients with mild symptoms.
“More often than not, itong mga pinauwi nila medyo lumala ito. That’s why ‘yung death toll sa COVID medyo may kalakihan po,” Philippine Ambassador to Myanmar Eduardo Kapunan Jr. said in the July 22 Laging Handa briefing.
Kapunan said among the factors that led to the death of two Filipinos due to COVID-19 in Myanmar is the lack of facilities.
Myanmar’s coup
Since the beginning of the military takeover of the Burmese government early in February, medical attention has been challenged as medical frontliners join protests against the military junta. The workers are also unable to return to work due to fear.
“Ngayon, kahit tawagan silang bumalik, natatakot sila bumalik baka maaresto sila at makulong dahil may warrant of arrest na po sila,” Kapunan said.
The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) already raised the alert level in Myanmar to 4, prompting the evacuation and even repatriation of overseas Filipinos.
The ambassador said more than 100 Filipinos have registered to go home, 59 will be brought home on August 3, and will be followed by two more batches.
“Even if our government starts telling them that this is mandatory, we cannot force the Filipinos… We do not have the means to force them,” he said, referring to evacuation. – Report from Naomi Tiburcio/AG-rir
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