Although the Yangon Region government has announced that pagodas and temples in the region can re-open on 30 July, some pagodas will still be closed, according to pagoda trustees.

Sule Pagoda Trustees Board member U Maung Maung Lay said, “We have already prepared to reopen the pagoda. Some officials came to us to inspect the pagoda. But we have received a letter from the National-Level Central Committee for Prevention, Control and Treatment of Coronavirus Disease 2019 which says they still don’t permit us to re-open the pagodas and temples.”

The National-Level Central Committee for Prevention, Control and Treatment of Coronavirus Disease 2019 has extended COVID-19 related restrictions until 15 August.

The Shwedagon Pagoda Trustees Board has announced that the pagoda still cannot re-open because they still are carefully preparing for COVID-19 preventive measures.