This week, Myanmar’s confirmed COVID-19 cases passed 100,000, with new cases hovering between 1000 and 1500 per day. Recent outbreaks include more than 80 cases among monks in a Mandalay monastery, as well as a surge in Myawaddy, whose case count leapt from 150 to 217 within one month. That outbreak may push Thailand to impose even tighter restrictions at that key border crossing.

Yangon mayor U Maung Maung Soe has also tested positive for the coronavirus. According to details from the Yangon City Development Committee, the mayor seems to have caught it while on the ground conducting COVID-19 awareness campaigns. Dr. Win Maw Oo, who is monitoring U Maung Maung Soe at the South Okkalapa Township hospital, told The Myanmar Times that the mayor is in good health.

Late last week, the Ministry of Health and Sports (MoHS) and The World Bank discussed the purchase and distribution of COVID-19 vaccine during a virtual meeting. Myanmar is included in the 92 member countries of COVAX mechanism offering fair and equitable access to COVID-19 vaccine. Myanmar can purchase vaccine via the mechanism and can apply for a loan from the World Bank if the vaccines for more than 20 per cent of the population are purchased. The World Bank mentioned that an additional USD 60 million loan is available for the purchase, transport and distribution of COVID-19 vaccine in Myanmar.

On the policy side, the pandemic has hampered Myanmar’s efforts for education reform. U Ko Lay Win, director general of the Department of Basic Education, told the Myanmar Times that school closures are causing serious problems for the rollout of the National Education Plan, which calls for a year-by-year phasing in of a whole new curriculum. However, he denied rumors that schools would soon re-open.

Regarding the economy, reports from the first two months of the fiscal year show huge dip in border trade with Thailand. That includes a USD 188 million loss at the Htikhee crossing compared to the same point in the 2019-2020 fiscal year, the Ministry of Commerce reported. Garment exports have also plummeted by 50% — a topic we cover in greater detail elsewhere in this newsletter.