September 24th, 2021
The total number of people infected with COVID-19 at the Internally Displaced Person (IDP) camp in Mongko in northern Shan State, has reached 102—97 IDPs and five volunteers, according to an official from the IDP camp.
“Today, we tested 32 people in total. Eighteen people are found to be infected with the virus. The total number of IDPs who caught the virus reached 97—37 in the first testing, 42 in the second testing and 18 in the third testing. We choose only those who were seriously ill to do testing as we have no place for treatment and accommodation. The number of infected volunteers is five—two in the first testing, one in the second testing and two in third testing,” he added.
More than 40 of the infected people are being treated at the people’s hospital. Two volunteer doctors from two Christian associations and more than 60 IDPs are in need of medicines and medical equipment.
A person helping the IDPs said: “We have to pay at least around 1,000 Chinese yuan per patient in the hospitals based on the illness. We have sent around 40 patients to the hospital. The hospitalization costs are very high in Chinese currency. No one has yet to be discharged from the hospital. I don’t know how much the hospital will ask for.
The IDP camps see the rising number of COVID-19 patients due to the weak enforcement of health rules and the lack of a better system, he added.
Due to high infection rates at the IDP camps, 17 households from Mannkhwatzwat, Naunglyan and Namhar villages went back home amid the ongoing fighting.
Heavy shells killed four civilians due to intense fighting between the military council and the Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army (MNDAA) (Kokang) near Mongko since the end of August. More than 700 locals who fled the fighting are taking shelter in the churches in downtown Mongko and monasteries since August 29th.
Sent by the KNG.