Even though countries have been working strictly to reduce the risk of Omicron variant infections ,in Myanmar, the current dictator has not been able to effectively address epidemic control.
Under the weak rule of the dictatorship government, the people's fear of disaster has waned. Despite the global awareness about epidemic awareness and coexistence daily, people in Myanmar forget to wear a face mask to protect against those air-borne diseases.
Such negligence of the people is concerned with the selfish actions of the military dictators. People were burned to death, Military vehicle ramming attacks on peaceful protesters, and gun-shootings are happening daily not only in small towns but also in big cities like a battlefield. Indeed, amid the mourning, the fear of the silent killer epidemic is shrouded in the fear of brutal dictatorship.
During the time of the civilian government, the State Counselor issued the rules like if people do not wear a mask, they will be fined 200 kyats. It can be said that people wore face masks, washed their hands and obeyed well. Nowadays, in some places, dictatorial thugs slap people when they wear masks and terrorism is still rampant.
Doctors, nurses, and many health workers are involved in the Civil Disobedience Movement, and some CDM members have been arrested and detained by the military council. Due to being sued and arrested by the military council, the public health care system is weak. Since the coup in the third wave of Covid-19, the dictatorship has been unable to provide the people with full health care. Despite the release of Martial Law, people had to line up to fill the oxygen cylinders to breathe, and people had to treat themselves at home.
Charitable rescue vehicles had to carry many dead bodies during the Covid third wave and people were faced with the mournful time that the dead bodies lined up for cremation in cemeteries. Even though there was enough money to pay for treatment, there were innumerable imperfect families who had lost their family members because they did not have a doctor to treat them.
If the ruling military council has not yet been able to set rules and ensure that the public health care system is functioning properly, Myanmar people will face great difficulties if the new Omicron variant, which is more contagious than the third wave of Covid, enters.
According to an Institute for Strategy and Policy-ISP Myanmar, Omicron has 50 unprecedented mutations from the original coronavirus. It also contains more than 30 spike proteins that can attach to the cells of the human body, which can speed up the spread of infection. Younger people who had a low incidence of Covid infection in the past have been diagnosed with the Omicron variant. Therefore, Covid vaccine booster injections are underway and preparations are being made to upgrade the vaccine in other countries.
Covid infection with seasonal flu has not dropped in Myanmar, and vaccination rates in the whole country are less than 50%, the report said.
The Delta outbreak, which began in India in late 2020, has risen sharply and is now back in the decline stage. In this situation, the international community is worried that the Omicron variant will be replaced by another wave of transmission.
A spokesperson for the Ministry of Health told the BBC on December 7 that Omicron variants have not yet been infected in Myanmar. The military council is trying to reopen some sectors without proper health rules and regulations. In the education sector, it is planned to reopen the universities in January 2022 and the tourism sector, the Ministry of Hotels and Tourism, under the control of the Military Council, has announced that Myanmar will accept international tourists in the first four months of 2022.
