Myanmar: Authorities extend international flight suspension until November 30 /update 26

Event

The Myanmar government has suspended the current ban on international flights until November 30 due to the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic. Exceptions are in place for humanitarian and cargo flights; permission for passenger flights may also be given from authorities to transport citizens and applications will be assessed on a case-by-case basis. The ban on domestic flights will continue until November 15 at the earliest. Mandatory quarantine and COVID-19 tests for visitors to the capital have been implemented and entry will only be allowed following a negative result.

Myanmar authorities issued additional stay-at-home orders for all townships in Yangon, with the exception of the Coco Islands, following a rise in COVID-19 cases. Employees in most industries are required to work from home, with the exception of certain industries deemed essential, such as finance, food, water, petrol distribution, and medical. Only one member of each household may leave the house to purchase supplies, and only two may leave to seek medical care. Face masks must be worn at all times in public places. A curfew between 23:00 and 04:00 (local time) is n place in Yangon and roads leading out of the city have been locked down. Those entering Yangon must quarantine for 14 days. Stay-at-home orders are also in place in Rakhine State alongside a 21:00 to 04:00 curfew.

As of Tuesday, October 27, there have been 47,666 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Myanmar with 1147 associated fatalities. Further international spread of the virus is to be expected in the near term.

Context

The first case of COVID-19 was reported on December 31 and the source of the outbreak has been linked to a wet market in Wuhan (Hubei province, China). Since then, human-to-human transmission of the virus has been confirmed.

Cases of the virus have been confirmed in numerous countries and territories worldwide. On March 11, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the global outbreak a pandemic. Virus-screening and quarantining measures are being implemented at airports worldwide, as well as extensive travel restrictions.

The most common symptoms of COVID-19 are fever, dry cough, and tiredness. Some patients may experience other symptoms such as body pains, nasal congestion, headache, conjunctivitis, sore throat, diarrhea, loss of taste or smell, or a rash on skin or discoloration of fingers or toes. These symptoms (in most cases mild) appear gradually. Generally, most patients (around 80 percent) recover from the disease without being hospitalized.

Advice

Measures adopted by local authorities evolve quickly and are usually effective immediately. Depending on the evolution of the outbreak in other countries, authorities are likely to modify, at very short notice, the list of countries whose travelers are subject to border control measures or entry restrictions upon their arrival to the territory in question. It is advised to postpone nonessential travel due to the risk that travelers may be refused entry or be subject to quarantine upon their arrival or during their stay.

To reduce the risk of transmission, travelers are advised to abide by the following measures:

• Frequently clean hands by applying an alcohol-based hand rub or washing with soap and water.
• When coughing and sneezing, cover mouth and nose with a flexed elbow or tissue; if used, throw the tissue away immediately and wash hands.
• If experiencing a fever, cough, difficulty breathing, or any other symptoms suggestive of respiratory illness, including pneumonia, call emergency services before going to the doctor or hospital to prevent the potential spread of the disease.