Rakhine State Electric Power, Industry and Transport Minister U Aung Kyaw Zan and State Social Affairs Minister Dr Chan Thar encouraged the truck drivers and helpers who are undergoing the Covid test through the use of the antigen test kits to receive virus clearance certificates to be able to go to the regions and states from Sittway town. The antigen test kits using virus tests were carried out in Khine Thazin hall in Sittway town on 7 October 2020.
Initially, the state ministers and officials inspected the preparation work to take the samples to detect the virus with the use of the test kits in the garden and inside the hall to control the spread of the coronavirus. Then, they encouraged the truck drivers and helpers to be patient with the need to wait for the test. Regarding taking of the samples to detect with the test kits, Rakhine State Transport Department Head U Aung Than Phyu said that they have the directive of the Ministry of Health and Sports. We aim at detecting the virus with the use of the test kits to enable rapid trade flow upon giving the COVID-19 clearance certificates. There were a total of 203 truck drivers and conductors when we surveyed for three days to check the test kits. Today, we will test about 60 of them. The truck drivers and conductors have requested to conduct the tests for them. We have given the recommendations for some trader associations for the drivers and conductors to be able to go everywhere freely. Then we can ensure the smooth flow of the commodities. This time, around 25 trucks are entering Sittway town daily.
If we find the truck drivers and helpers positive, we will send them to hospital in coordination with the health department. And if they are discovered negative, they will receive the health clearance certificates for travelling.—Tin Tun (IPRD)
(Translated by Hay Mar)
