The number of cases of the Omicron coronavirus variant in Myanmar reached 283 on January 28, as the Ministry of Health reported no deaths attributed to Covid-19 for the fifth consecutive day.

Myanmar’s first Omicron cases were reported about a month ago, when four people who had returned from the United Arab Emirates were detected with the variant.

Out of a batch of 86 samples sent to the National Health Laboratory on January 28, 72 were identified as Omicron, the Ministry of Health said. Sixty-eight of those variant cases came from just two Sagaing Region townships, Tamu (48) and Kalay (20), the ministry added.

“There is no report of an Omicron infection in Arakan State,” said Dr. Soe Win Paing, assistant director of the Public Health Department in Arakan State. “According to the results so far, infections of the new variant are not high. And the detected cases have not been severe.”

The doctor nonetheless criticised what he described as weak adherence to Covid-19 prevention and mitigation measures, saying people in Arakan State did not show enough concern about the possibility of a significant Omicron outbreak.

To prevent the spread of Covid-19 in Arakan State, boatmen who returned from Bangladesh are placed in 10 days of quarantine, and are only allowed to return to work if they test negative, said U Tin Aung Oo, chair of the Arakan State Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

“Boatmen who are fully vaccinated have to show a document of negative results. They have to report to the Covid-19 Prevention, Control and Treatment Committee when they return from Bangladesh. Their nasal swabs are taken two times to test for Covid-19,” he told DMG.

U Hla Thein, a spokesperson for the military government in Arakan State, told DMG that travellers using motorways, waterways and airlines are being monitored for Covid-19 infection.