The Kachin Independence Organization (KIO) has restricted travel in the territory under its control in N’mawk (Momauk) Township in Kachin State’s Bhamo District after Burma’s 249th COVID-19 case was found in the township.

Travel in and out of Mai Ja Yang, Loije, N’Ba Pa, and other villages in the area was limited after a nurse tested positive for the virus in N’mawk (Momauk), the KIO’s COVID-19 response committee said. The 24-year-old patient had previously worked near the Loije border crossing to China.

“A confirmed case was found near our area. Therefore, we have restricted traveling in our control territory,” Salang Kaba Lazum La Doi, who is working with KIO’s COVID-19 response committee, told KNG.

The committee ordered local people to follow guidelines put forward by the KIO’s health department.

According to Salang Kaba Lazum La Doi, there were nine COVID-19 screening points in the KIO’s territory in N’mawk (Momauk) Township, but they have since closed.

Burma’s Ministry of Health and Sports reported that Patient 249 tested positive for COVID-19 on June 11.

KIO officials are carrying out contact tracing of people who may have been around Patient 249 and are now in the organization’s territory.

At the time of reporting, the Ministry of Health and Sports had reported 262 cases of COVID-19, six deaths, and 175 recoveries in the country.