Myanmar morning news for March 26, 2020

Myanmar confirms third case of COVID-19
The health ministry announced on Tuesday another confirmed COVID-19 case in the country, the third in two days.
— Myanmar Times

Myanmar Central Bank Cuts Interest Rates Another 1% to Aid Economy
The Central Bank of Myanmar (CBM) has dropped interest rates by an additional 1 percent as the country’s economy has slowed due to the COVID-19 global pandemic.
— Irrawaddy

Border Gate Forced to Open as Myanmar Migrant Workers Leave Thailand Amid COVID-19
Thailand and Myanmar were forced to open the second Mae Sot-Myawaddy Friendship Bridge after thousands of migrants workers flocked to Mae Sot to return to Myanmar on Tuesday, despite the COVID-19 restrictions.
— Irrawaddy

As social distancing grows, e-commerce companies take initiatives for safer online shopping
Following recommendations of the World Health Organisation (WHO), people, in general, have disconnected from their daily routines to practice social distancing, leaving businesses with no way to reach consumers.
— Myanmar Times

Only 8 airlines left at Yangon International Airport
Only eight airlines are operating flights between nine international destinations and Yangon International Airport, airport authorities said on Monday after Myanmar confirmed its first two cases of COVID-19.
— Myanmar Times

Myanmar tightens restrictions on foreign visitors
The government on Tuesday announced that all foreign nationals arriving in Myanmar must present a medical certificate showing they had no acute respiratory illness (fever, cough or shortness of breath) before boarding their flight.
— Myanmar Times

JICA continues to support Myanmar: new chief
The Japanese development agency will continue to support Myanmar’s infrastructure and economic development, its new chief said.
— Myanmar Times

World Bank, ADB to assist in Myanmar’s efforts to deal with COVID-19’s effects
U Thaung Tun, Union Minister for Investment and Foreign Economic Relations (MIFER) and Chair of Working Committee to Address the Possible Impacts of COVID-19 on the Country’s Economy had separately met with Gevorg Sargsyan, Acting Country Director of the World Bank Myanmar and Newin Sinsiri, Asian Development Bank (ADB) Country Director, March 23, Nay Pyi Taw, the Ministry released.
— Myanmar Times

Myanmar shuts down beaches in Ayeyarwady region
Due to the COVID-19 crisis, Ayeyarwady Region Government Committee has made a decision to close the beaches in the region.
— Myanmore

Yunnan Province donates masks to Myanmar
Yunnan Province donated 60,000 masks to Myanmar to be used in preventing the Coronavirus infection, state media reported.
— Mizzima

Myanmar gov’t to draw plan for prompt response to possible COVID-19 infection at IDP camps
Myanmar government is planning to draw a plan to provide prompt response to possible COVID-19 infection at internally displaced persons (IDP) camps in the country, state-run media reported Wednesday.
— China.org

Myanmar’s $70-mn stimulus package to tackle pandemic
Myanmar recently announced a stimulus package to tackle the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the country’s economy, including $70 million worth of loans, eased deadlines for tax payments and tax exemptions for affected businesses. The COVID-19 Fund will help garment, manufacturing, hotel and tourism businesses and other small and medium enterprises.
— Fibre2fashion

Govt, employers, workers discuss shuttering factories
Representatives of the government, employers and workers met to discuss a shutdown of factories if the COVID-19 outbreak worsens in the country, a labour leader said.
— Myanmar Times

Maldives, Gambia discuss case against Myanmar at ICJ
Minister of Foreign Affairs Abdulla Shahid and his Gambian counterpart, Mamadou Tangara, discussed Maldives’ decision to intervene in Gambia’s case at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) against Myanmar on Wednesday.
— Edition

India Plans to Augment Presence in Myanmar’s Troubled Rakhine State
India is taking more direct stake in Myanmar’s Rakhine State.
— The Diplomat

Commentary: Has Myanmar been in denial over COVID-19 outbreak all this while?
Myanmar’s poor healthcare infrastructure will make it very challenging for the country to deal decisively with the outbreak, says Dr Nehginpao Kipgen.
— Channel NewsAsia

Community rallies as panic buying hits Myanmar over COVID-19 fears
The confirmation of Myanmar’s first COVID-19 cases sparked almost immediate panic buying of basic commodities in Yangon, despite warnings that gathering at crowded markets could increase the risk of infection.
— Frontier Myanmar

Yangon Region Social Affairs Minister placed in home-quarantine
Yangon-Yangon Region Minister for Social Affairs U Naing Ngan Lin who met the quarantined people in Hlegu Township has been placed in 14-day home-quarantine on 24 March.
— Eleven Myanmar

ASEAN Para Games postponed for third time to October
The ASEAN Para Sports Federation (APSF) has postponed the ASEAN Para Games for the third time. Now, the Games has been rescheduled to take place from October 3 to 9 in the Philippines.
— Myanmar Times

MIC’s performances in first two months of 2020
The Myanmar Investment Commission (MIC) is permitting local and foreign investments in accordance with the Myanmar Investment Law.
— The Global New Light of Myanmar

Buses in Yangon to open windows
After confirmation of Myanmar’s first two cases COVID-19, the Yangon Region Transport Authority (YRTA) has instructed all bus line operators to run their buses with the windows open. The YRTA also confirmed on March 24 that services would continue as usual.
— Myanmar Times

State Counsellor chairs meeting of National-Level Central Committee on Prevention, Control and Treatment of Coronavirus Disease
State Counsellor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, in her capacity as the Chairperson of the National-Level Central Committee on Prevention, Control and Treatment of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (Covid-19), delivered a speech at the meeting on control measures of the disease yesterday.
— The Global New Light of Myanmar

Commentary: Has Myanmar been in denial over COVID-19 outbreak all this while?
Myanmar’s poor healthcare infrastructure will make it very challenging for the country to deal decisively with the outbreak, says Dr Nehginpao Kipgen.
— CNA

Update on COVID-19 surveillance
The Ministry of Health and Sports is conducting surveillance for COVID-19 at international entry/exit gates, in hospitals, communities and in collaboration with private hospitals.
— The Global New Light of Myanmar

Myanmar Faces Squeeze on Hospitals, Basics as Virus Arrives
Myanmar, which shares borders with China, India, Thailand, Bangladesh and Laos, is facing the reality of the novel coronavirus, after the government officially confirmed the first two cases of Covid-19 late Monday.
— Bloomberg

Rohingya community asks govt for help during MCO
The Rohingya community here have called on the government to initiate emergency support to assist them during the current Movement Control Order (MCO) to curb the spread of the Covid-19 pandemic.
— New Straits Times

National-level committee to implement resettlement, closures of IDP camps
The National-level Committee for Resettlement and Closures of IDP Camps held its first coordination meeting in Nay Pyi Taw yesterday to implement its strategies.
— The Global New Light of Myanmar

Tripartite discussions focus on lessening Covid-19 impacts
The Ministry of Labour, Immigration and Population held a meeting in Nay Pyi Taw yesterday with representatives of employees and employers to find solutions how to reduce the impacts of Covid-19 pandemic.
— The Global New Light of Myanmar

Myanmar Speaker Rejects Call to Summon Military-Majority Security Council to Address COVID-19
Myanmar’s parliamentary speaker has rejected a proposal to summon the military-dominated National Defence and Security Council to address a possible COVID-19 outbreak.
— Irrawaddy

Sufficient stockpile of rice in the domestic market: MRF
There are still sufficient stocks of rice in the domestic rice market, according to a statement issued by the Myanmar Rice Federation (MRF) on 24 March.
— Eleven Myanmar

Mandalay travel blogger sets her mark on social media
Dr HtetEiEi Win has been an active travel blogger based in Mandalay sharing travelling related contents via her Facebook page ‘Travelled by HEEW- HtetEi’.
— Myanmar Times

Myanmar’s Central Bank Says Banking Will Continue Despite Coronavirus
The Central Bank of Myanmar has promised that the nation’s banks will operate smoothly in “any situation”.
— Irrawaddy

Home quarantines enforced in Chin village
Chin State government has instructed the locals to stay at homes in Ketal village of Tiddim Township, Chin State, where the Covid-19 case was found. U Soe Htet, the Minister for Development, Electricity and Industry of Chin State government, said, “The case happened some days ago.
— The Global New Light of Myanmar

Myanmar Military: Troops Attacked in RCSS Ambush
Myanmar’s military says its troops were attacked in a Restoration Council of Shan State ambush while the rebel group says the Tatmadaw moved against one of its bases.
— Irrawaddy

Amyotha Hluttaw concludes 15th regular session
The 13th -day meeting of the Second Amyotha Hluttaw’s 15th regular session was held yesterday.
— The Global New Light of Myanmar

Police, AR drive out workers from Myanmar
At a time when the deadly coronavirus COVID-19 has claimed the lives of over 17,000 people worldwide, workers from Myanmar were found working at Kwatha Khunou and Moulphai Village, which is located between Border Pillars 81 and 82 .
— e-pao

Well-wishers donate cash to fight against coronavirus
Two well-wisher organizations donated K 40 million to the National-Level Central Committee on Prevention, Control and Treatment of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) at the Ministry of Health and Sports in Nay Pyi Taw yesterday.
— The Global New Light of Myanmar

A Fierce Battle in Western Myanmar Has Killed Hundreds as the Country Braces for COVID
Since January, fighting between the Arakan Army and Myanmar’s military has intensified dramatically, killing hundreds as Myanmar focuses attention on the threat of COVID-19.
— Irrawaddy

Nine Year-Old Killed in Rakhine as Myanmar Military Launches Air Strikes Against AA
One child was killed and 15 civilians were injured Monday when the Myanmar military
— Irrawaddy

Feature photo IOM UN Migration

This week’s Myanmar morning news feature photo focus on World Tuberculosis (TB) Day, March 24.

Find our previous morning news feature photos in the AEC News Today Morning News Feature Photos gallery where you will find a pictorial display of daily life throughout the Asean Economic Community (AEC).

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