February 22nd, 2022
Twenty-five refugees who returned to their homes tested positive for Covid-19 in Loikaw within three days since February 19th, an official of the Shwe Loikaw Philanthropic Organization said.
“The health department measures the body temperatures of the returnees in front of the Light Infantry Battalion-250. The department sends those with high body temperature and COVID-19 symptoms to the COVID-19 center near the roundabout of the Kayah Day Ground and collects swabs. Those who test negative for COVID-19 can go home while those who test positive are sent to COVID-19 center.”
“A returnee from Naungyar ward tested positive for COVID-19. He stayed there. We are allowed to go home,” he added.
In the first week of February, the people from some wards in downtown Loikaw go home. The patients are in quarantine at the nursing training school. The patients with severe symptoms are at the hospital.
From December, 31st, 2021 to February 20th, 2022, Kayah State recorded 5,998 cases and 244 deaths, according to the facebook post by Dr. Htay Lwin, head of Kayah State Public Health Department.
On February 20th, 15 cases were recorded. Currently, the total number of the COVID-19 patients has reached 33 in downtown Loikaw—eight at Loikaw People’s Hospital, two at the military hospital, 22 at PMC Nursing Training School and one at the house.
Although there is no intense fighting in downtown Loikaw, the sounds of gunfire and heavy shelling are regularly heard, according to locals.
Most of the people from downtown Loikaw fled to other regions and states due to the intense fighting at Monglone ward in late January. The people from the wards which see no fighting are gradually returning to their homes in February.
Sent by Maw Oo Myar (Kantarawaddy Times).
