UN meeting that began New Thai army Daw Aung Sann Su with unity concludes chief vows to with divisions defend monarchy Kyi portrait goes viral HEARTBEAT OF THE NATION 500 Ks. WWW.MMTIMES.COM DAILY EDITION ISSUE 1382 | THURSDAY, OCTOBER 1, 2020 Market run A woman carrying vegetables and other food items walks along a street in downtown Yangon on Wednesday, as much of the city is shuttered due to efforts to curb the spread of COVID-19. Photo: Nyan Zay Htet Rakhine’s case numbers show a slight decline The spread of the virus in Rakhine has slowed down, but infections in Yangon continue to rise, the Health and Sports Minnistry announced on Wednesday. NEWS 3 MORE 100,000 SEEK TRUCK DRIVER IN SNLD FOUNDER PASSES TO TRAVEL MUSE TRADE AREA RESIGNS, PARTY SAYS IN YANGON FOR TESTS POSITIVE FOR IT ELECTION PLANS ESSENTIAL BUSINESS COVID-19 NOT AFFECTED NEWS 3 NEWS 3 NEWS 4 2 THE MYANMAR TIMES OCTOBER 1, 2020 Facts and figures for COVID-19 COVID-19 cases in Myanmar Trendline for COVID-19 cases in Myanmar 15000 Confirmed cases 13,373 10000 Deaths from virus confirmed Recovered by tests 310 3,755* 5000 Number of people who tested negative for COVID-19 296,041 Source: Ministry of Health and Sports, Myanmar Graphic: Khin Zaw/The Myanmar Times 0 01/04/2020 01/05/2020 01/06/2020 01/07/2020 01/08/2020 01/09/2020 COVID-19 cases in Rakhine State by township COVID-19 infections in Rakhine State 15000 Sittwe 871 Kyauk Phyu 209 Mrauk-U 106 Maungdaw 69 Kyauktaw 65 10000 Pauk Taw 55 Buthidaung 42 Min Byar 40 Myae Pon 30 Phonnar Kyun 28 5000 Thandwe 12 Toungup 12 Rathedaung 7 Ann 5 Man Aung 2 0 Gwa 1 01/04/2020 01/05/2020 01/06/2020 01/07/2020 01/08/2020 01/09/2020 Yanbyae 1 0 300 600 900 COVID-19 cases in Confirmed COVID-19 Global numbers Yangon Region by township cases by state and for COVID-19 Insein 785 Thingangyun 642 region in Myanmar North Okkalapa 474 Mingaladon 431 Hlaingtaryar 423 Yangon Hlaing 388 9233 Coronavirus cases: South Ohkala 367 Tamwe 361 Rakhine 1555 Mayangone 322 33,904,593 Kyi Myin Daing 311 Thaketa 305 Pegu Mingalartaungnyunt 305 372 Dala 286 Pabedan 237 Mandalay Shwepyitar 236 290 Dagon Myothit (South) 216 Bahan 210 Mon Lanmadaw 205 280 Than Lynn 205 Kamaryut 200 Ayeyarwaddy Recovered: Dagon Myothit (North) 199 270 Latha 186 Dagon 182 Nay Pyi Taw Tontay 170 125 25,193,925 Sanchaung 162 Pazundaung 160 Sagaing Dawbon 158 61 Dagon Myothit (East) 153 Botahtaung 140 Kachin Yankin 126 50 Alone 122 Kyauktada 118 Magway Dagon Myothit (Seikkan) 97 48 Kunchan Khone 49 Kaw Hmue 46 Kayin Deaths: Kyauktan 45 46 Hmawbi 43 Seikkyi Kanaungtoe 43 Chin Kayan 42 40 1,013,738 Htantapin 28 Hlegu 26 Shan Thonekwa 21 29 Htauk Kyant 3 Thaik Kyi 3 Tanintaryi 29 0 200 400 600 800 Source: worldometers.info Figures as of 8pm September 30 *Includes patients sent home after 14-day quarantine OCTOBER 1, 2020 THE MYANMAR TIMES www.mmtimes.com News 3 Yangon COVID-19 transmissions should fall within two weeks if public cooperates’ HMUE ANGEL, THURA MIN ZAW infection rate will plateau after two ing the total number of cases reported [email protected] weeks and gradually decline to a at the Thiri Mingalar Market to 12, lower level. This is what we are trying Hlaing No.1 Constituency’s Hluttaw YANGON residents should follow the to achieve now by asking everyone to MP U Kyaw Kyaw Tun confirmed. example set by Rakhine and adhere to stay at home,” he said. Another person also tested positive a stay-at-home order imposed across In Yangon currently, travelling be- for COVID-19 at the Padauk Chaung the region to help reduce the number tween townships has been minimised port behind the market where goods of COVID-19 infections, a spokesper- due to the regional government’s are unloaded. son of the Ministry of Health and strict enforcement, so the chain of Currently, all shops where COV- Sports said. contact should break in two weeks if ID-19 positive patients were found “The Rakhine situation has been residents cooperate, said Dr Than Na- have been placed under lockdown positive. There were a few new cases ing Soe. and restrictions are in place in those found in the state a few days ago but Extra care is being taken at the areas. the numbers have declined due to the Yangon markets, which are still al- Some betel nut stands, fruit stalls public’s cooperation with the authori- lowed to open to the public for food and grocery shops have also decided ties in staying at home. This proves and basic supplies. to close. that we can contain case transmis- Just this week, a new COVID-19 case Meanwhile, other essential shops sions if the public obeys the rules,” was detected at the new Thiri Mingalar at the new market will continue to Dr Than Naing Soe, a director of the Market, one of the major wholesale cen- remain open for the public, following ministry, said. tres in Yangon, according to the Minis- an inspection on business conditions U Wai Phyo Han, Insein township YCDC workers along Kabaraye Pagoda Roadd on September 29. try of Health and Sports announcement by deputy mayor U Soe Lwin on Sep- regional MP, said on social media Photo: Aung Htay Hlaing on September 29. tember 27. there are still people in some Yangon The patient sold dried fish at the The efforts and restrictions repre- townships, such as Insein, who con- donors and volunteers have put a lot chain of contacts with positive cas- market and subsequently infected five sent a “last battle” to bring down the tinue to flout rules imposed by the of effort into fighting the disease in es, the more the number of new other vendors from the fruit and veg- infection fate in Yangon, said Dr Zaw authorities. Yangon, so the public should also play patients will drop on a daily basis. etable market, two people selling be- Wai Soe, rector of the University of Dr Than Naing Soe said “health their part. Typically in the first two weeks, the tel nut, two selling fruits, a street stall Medicine 1, Yangon, on September 28. workers, the regional government, “The more we do to break the number of patients will rise but the owner and an oil shop employee, tak- – Translated Muse truck More than 100,000 apply for QR code to travel in Yangon NAING AUNG driver tests [email protected] MORE than 100,000 people have ap- plied for the QR pass code in Yangon, positive for which allows the holder to travel from one township to another amid a region-wide stay-home order. COVID-19 The QR code is issued only for businesses and hundreds of thou- KHIN SU WAI sands of applicants to date, said U [email protected] Aye Win, general secretary of the Un- ion of Myanmar Federation of Cham- A TRUCK driver tested positive for COV- bers of Commerce and Industry (UM- ID-19 at the Muse 105th Mile Station, FCCI) on September 30. while having his cargo inspected. Twelve The UMFCCI released an an- other drivers were taken to Muse for nouncement on September 25 say- swab tests, according to U Thaung Tun, ing that only registered vehicles op- member of Muse Gayuna Social Welfare erating for 27 essential businesses Association. exempted from the government’s The 31-year-old driver complained of stay-home order will be allowed to dizziness and fatigue on September 28. travel from one township from an- He was confirmed positive after taking other in Yangon. the swab test. Those businesses will need to “We tested his swab at Muse Hospital, register online to obtain a QR code, where he is now receiving medical care. which will allow them to travel to dif- Out of the 13 truck drives, two are under ferent Yangon’s townships. quarantine at the district hospital while “The current QR pass system is the other 11 are in a holding area awaiting only for businesses and it is not con- their results,” U Thaung Tun said. cerned with other organisations, de- A Yangon policeman checks documents to a vehicle on September 27. Photo: Nyan Zay Htet Muse residents don’t need to worry, partments or the public, who must as the driver informed authorities of his abide by the health guidelines of the permitted by the ministry. It is not the name of a proxy firm but as the nounced that taxis will also need to symptoms before arriving in the town of- Ministry of Health and Sports,” said concerned with other kinds of busi- registration is carried out by the com- show necessary documentation con- ficials said. U Aye Win. nesses at all. The people don’t know pany owners or a representative, they sisting of the QR code and ID if the However, the driver may have come “The QR pass is not for all busi- this well,” he said. must ensure that the business is real. drivers are travelling to a different into contact with some restaurants along nesses but only for 27 businesses He added that some register using The Yangon Police Force also an- township in Yangon. the way to the border – an estimated 30 people, who will now undergo quarantine in Kyakme, the officials said. Muse has reported four COVID- 19-positive cases.