Public Health Department, Central Epidemiology Unit Deputy Director Dr. Khin Khin Gyi said that one more coronavirus suspect case has been found in Loikaw and the total number of suspected cases had reached five so far and they were being monitored closely and given treatment.

“First case is a Chinese national aged 56 and we found another a 15-year-old patient with symptoms similar to coronavirus including coughing blood. We are giving treatment to these two patients at Waibargi infectious disease hospital,” Dr. Khin Khin Gyi said.

“Similarly, there are more cases - a 38-year old male patient in Minbyar, and a one year, two months-old child in Kengtung were reported. We took samples and swabs from these patients. We also took samples and swabs of another case found in Loikaw, Kayah State. So, we have found four cases of Myanmar nationals and one Chinese national,” she added.

A press statement issued by Ministry of Health and Sports says that the ministry is taking samples of ‘nasopharyngeal swab’ from the patients of suspected cases of ‘novel coronavirus 2019’ and sending them to a laboratory.

Myanmar evacuated Myanmar students from Wuhan, China, the epicentre of the coronavirus outbreak, by charter flight but one male student and one lady student had to be left there as they had a high fever while boarding the aircraft but the press statement issued on February 2 by Myanmar embassy in Beijing says that these two students are now in good health and their body temperature normal so they have been sent back to the hostels of the their respective universities.