Covid-19 infections surge to 85 in Myanmar

A car travels along a road on the first day of Myanmar's New Year water known as Thingyan, in central Yangon on April 12, 2020, amid restrictions put in place to halt the spread of Covid-19. - AFP

YANGON (Xinhua): The number of Covid-19 infections has surged to 85, with 11 more new confirmed cases reported on Thursday (April 16), according to a statement from the Health and Sports Ministry.

Of the newly confirmed cases, nine are from Yangon region while one each from Mandalay region and Chin state.

Those new cases include five patients while some were under facility and home quarantine as they were in close contact with previously confirmed cases.

With increasing number of local transmissions, Myanmar has reported four deaths so far in 25 days since the infectious disease was first detected in the country on March 23.

People in Yangon region are under stay-home period during the holidays of the traditional Thingyan Water Festival which was cancelled as part of efforts to curb the spread of coronavirus pandemic. - Xinhua