More than 530 Chinese citizens are stuck in Tachileik, eastern Shan State, which borders the Thai town of Mae Sai in Chiang Rai Province, for having insufficient documents.

The stranded people reportedly entered Tachileik without an entry permit, and have been refused re-entry to Thailand by the Thai authorities. Tachileik’s General Adminstration Department (GAD) officer Chan Myae Saw, said that they remain in limbo in the town.

“There are a total of 537 Chinese citizens. They are staying in hotels. They can extend their stay. They must pay a fine after 14 days,” he told SHAN.

The GAD officer added that the stranded people have opted to return directly to China from Burma, but must report to the Chinese embassy first.

“The Thai-Burma friendship bridge is still open, but the Thai authorities do not allow Chinese citizens enter into Thailand [without a visa],” Chan Myae Saw said, referring to Thailand’s increased restrictions on travelers due to the coronavirus.

Two Chinese citizens were hospitalized in Tachileik’s public hospital yesterday with symptoms similar to that of coronavirus. They are being monitored.

The Thai health ministry has reported one death from Covid-19, 147 infections, and 6,545 people being monitored.

Despite the global pandemic, Burma has reported no cases of coronavirus, an anomaly that has been questioned and challenged by health professionals and critics.

The Burmese government recently imposed new restrictions on those entering the country, requiring 14 days of quarantine or self-quarantine for visitors who have been in a range of countries that have reported increasing cases of coronavirus, including China.