In Myanmar, the Central Committee on Prevention, Control and Treatment on COVID-19 announced on Thursday (May 28) to extend the suspension of visas and international flights and other virus prevention measures except the previous lifted measures until June 15.

As per a recent survey by the Ministry of Hotels and Tourism (MOHT), travel restrictions due to COVID-19 pandemic has affected over 80 percent of micro, small and medium sized tourism businesses very badly. These businesses are either laying-off staff or putting them on furlough or unpaid leaves due to almost nil business due to the pandemic crisis.

“The government also needs to prepare to promote the tourism sector post COVID-19. International travelers won’t immediately come to visit Myanmar once the pandemic is over. So we need to think about how to promote local tourism in sustainable ways,” said U Win Min of the Myanmar Center for Responsible Business (MCRB).

The Ministry of Health and Sports has informed that stay at home instructions at four out of ten townships in Yangon Region, which have been placed to contain the spread of COVID-19, will be removed starting from 4 pm on May 29. The four townships are Bahan, Pabedan, South Okkalapa and Tarmwe.

Earlier, the ministry announced that four out of ten townships (Mingaladon, Hlaing Tharyar, Shwe Pyi Thar and Botahtaung) in Yangon will be free from the restrictions May 14 onward.

Meanwhile, Dr. Myint Htwe, the Health Minister, has signed a directive that includes five categories where gathering of five or more persons will be allowed, as follow:

1. Workers at governmental departments, organisations, companies, factories and workshops
2. Public, private and monastic schools
3. Meetings, discussions and classes at governmental organisations
4. Customers at food shops which have been allowed to reopen
5. Working at essential jobs or services

In regards to cases of COVID-19, Yangon has reported 161 confirmed cases while the country has reported a total number of 206 confirmed cases, 6 deaths and 126 recoveries, as of Thursday (May 29). No case has been found yet only in Kayah state.