By Sai -Hseng Laeng/SHAN

Checkpoints operating around the clock have been set up around Taunggyi, the capital of Shan State, to monitor people’s health during the worst coronavirus outbreak Burma has experienced since the first transmissions were detected in the SE Asian nation at the end of March.

Eight people have died of COVID-19, the disease caused by the coronavirus, since early September. From August 16, more than 1,600 cases have been confirmed after a bank employee in Sittwe tested positive. Although transmissions have been reported across the country, the majority are in Yangon Region and Rakhine State.

Phyo Min Hteik, a general administration development (GAD) officer for Taunggyi Township, told SHAN that medical staff are checking people’s temperatures at the checkpoints around the clock, which were installed on September 9. Checkpoints established in the past operated from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m.

The GAD officer said one will be set up at Taung Laylon, where 20 people work. While another with 24 people will be set up to check motorists traveling on the Hopon to Taunggyi highway.

With the numbers of cases rising across the country, health officials say it is absolutely necessary to reintroduce the ‘health checkpoints’ to the southern Shan State city.

Everyone arriving from townships with outbreaks or from international destinations are required by law to do mandatory quarantine upon arrival in Taunggyi Township.”All travelers must stay in a quarantine facility at High School No-5 or High School No-2 in Taunggyi if they don’t have a health recommendation document during their visit to Taunggyi Township,” said Ko Win Naing Soe, who is a volunteer.

The government reported 2,265 confirmed cases of COVID-19, 14 deaths and 625 recoveries in the country at 8 a.m. September 11.