Besides summarizing the current situation of the COVID-19 pandemic, our recent policy report identifies policy gaps that the new government has to plug. What can the country do to quickly contain COVID-19? Duke University’s Center for Policy Impact in Global Health and Community Partners International in Yangon analyzed Myanmar’s pandemic preparedness and its policy response to provide an answer to this question. The government now faces the task of stemming the rapid increase in cases. In the November 2020 national elections, Myanmar civilian leader Aung San Suu Kyi’s party won comfortably to stay in power. Source: Ministry of Health and Sports, Myanmar. Cumulative active confirmed cases, discharged patients and deaths By November 20, there were 76,414 confirmed cases and 1,695 deaths (Figure 1). This wave has overwhelmed Myanmar’s inadequate and understaffed health infrastructure. Daily cases increased from less than 10 per day in early August to over 1,000 per day in mid-October. Just as it started easing them though, the country was hit by a major second wave in mid-August.

Early in the crisis, the government rapidly implemented measures to contain the virus. During the first wave of the coronavirus pandemic, from late March to early August, Myanmar recorded just 360 cases and 6 deaths.

Army strategic plan 2020