Fatalities continue to rise in northern Chin State as outbreaks in Falam, Tedim and Tongzan townships worsen, killing over 75 people from July 2 to 13.
A volunteer for a prevention group in Falam Township said 25 died in Falam town, and 4 were killed in the villages. Most of the patients in town had diabetes or high blood pressure and they didn’t get enough oxygen, a combination that might have contributed to their deaths.
The hospital has only one generator capable of producing 30 tanks a day, not enough for everyone who needs it.
In Tedim town, there were over 20 who died from the virus. Sixteen in the hospital and the rest in their homes. Like in Falam, most of them were battling other ailments, a volunteer said. Over 460 tested positive in the township that does not have a physician who specializes in infectious diseases or an oxygen generator.
In Tongzan Township, there were 26 deaths, according to Dr. Thang Shang, director of the township’s public health department. Of the 3,380 tests administered, there were 649 who tested positive. While most have recovered from the disease, there are still 68 active cases.
With so few health workers on hand, Thang Shang said it has been difficult treating patients.
There have been nearly 50 infections detected in the southern state. In Matupi town, 20 people tested positive, one of which recovered.
A resident said most of the infections were travellers returning from Yangon, all of which are doing fine. Health officials quarantined 50 of their close contacts, and authorities sealed off the town from July 10 to 30.
At Noble Boarding School in Paletwa town, 19 out of 30 Grade 10 students tested positive on July 13. Kyaw Htike Kay, who owns the school that opened for classes on July 2, suspects a student from Pathein town who stayed one night when he was feeling sick might have infected the others.
Once they discovered the student’s relative is a nurse in Paletwa whose entire family has COVID-19, they tested the students.
They isolated the positive cases at Paletwa High School, while the rest are at a quarantine centre.
Since July 13, there have been 25 infections in Paletwa: the 19 students and 6 members of the nurse’s family. In June, there were 7 infections, but everyone has recovered.
Since the third wave started, hundreds have died in Chin State and Kalay Township, in Sagaing Region. Last year, the National League for Democracy government and civil society organizations worked together to stop the first and second waves.
The military council has been unable or unwilling to prevent this latest wave from overtaking the country.