MANDALAY (UCAN): On August 23, the Sacred Heart Cathedral and some parishes in Mandalay, Myanmar, resumed public Masses with attendance limited to 30 people. The faithful were urged to wear facemasks, sit one metre apart and wash their hands before entering the church.
Authorities in Mandalay announced on August 17 that Buddhists, Christians, Muslims and Hindus are allowed to hold prayer services once a week with no more than 30 people. The regional government urged the various religions to follow the guidelines from the Ministry of Health and Sports.
Charles Cardinal Bo of Yangon, said that the Covid-19 coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) situation in Myanmar is deeply worrying and urged the public to comply with guidelines
“Covid has forced us to be together in our generosity and through our fears. But it also has posed great questions to our existence, our faith and our priorities,” he said in a homily on August 23.
Health officials in Myanmar stepped up efforts to tackle the Covid-19 outbreak after a spike in locally transmitted cases surged since August 16.
The government sent 24 healthcare workers, including doctors and nurses to Sittwe, capital of Rakhine on August 23.
The Ministry of Health and Sports reported 13 more infections on the morning of August 24, bringing the number of local transmission cases to 72. Authorities imposed a partial lockdown in Sittwe and imposed a 9.00pm to 4.00am curfew, urging people to stay at home.
Flights from Sittwe to Yangon, the commercial hub of Myanmar, have been suspended.
Near Sittwe, thousands of Rohingya Muslims remain in displaced persons camps, facing restricted freedom of movement and limited access to healthcare, education and employment opportunities.
The news of the Covid-19 spike in Rakhine has alarmed other regions in the country where things are returning to normal as restrictions have been loosened.
There are 463 confirmed cases in Myanmar including six deaths and 341 recoveries, according to the latest data. The first local transmission was a bank worker who had no close no close contact with infected patients nor travel history overseas.
Some 16 dioceses nationwide continue to broadcast Sunday Masses, daily Bible reflections and Eucharistic adoration.
