By Hseng Leng/SHAN

Eight people, including six medical staff, have been placed in quarantine after coming into contact with a man who tested positive for COVID-19 at Lashio Public Hospital in northern Shan State. All have been tested.

The patient from Tang Yang town was transferred to the ears, nose and throat department of the hospital in Lashio, where a rapid coronavirus test kit confirmed he had the disease this Monday, November 16.

Dr Nyan Myint, from Lashio Public Hospital, told SHAN the man’s wife and uncle are among those in quarantine. The patient has a history of lung disease and other respiratory problems.

In Shan State, there are 258 confirmed cases, of which 129 are active cases, according to the government’s Ministry of Health and Sports (MoHS). One person has died of the disease in the state.

In Burma, there have been 71,730 confirmed transmissions and 54,274 recoveries, while 1,625 have died from the disease, according to information obtained by MoHS on November 17. There are 15,831 active cases in the country.