Six nurses were in contact with about a hundred people at Sao San Htun Public Hospital in Shan State’s capital, Taunggyi, before it was known they had COVID-19.

The nurses, who were volunteering at the hospital, learned they had developed the disease after being tested on their return to Yangon on December 4.

Dr Wai Wai Mon, from Sao San Htun Public Hospital, told SHAN that in addition to the 100 people who had direct contact with them, an additional 20 were in contact with the 100. Most who had either direct or indirect contact with the nurses were also medical staff. Each was tested with a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test.

Dr Wai Wai Mon said there were 36 COVID-19 patients at Sao San Htun Public Hospital on December 8. The Shan State Health Department reported 391 transmissions between April and December.

The Ministry of Health and Sports reported 103,166 cases of COVID-19 in the country on December 9. Of these, 80,726 have recovered and 2,151 died.