Simonia Aida

COVID-19 in Myanmar: impact on society and authority

ЮГО-ВОСТОЧНАЯ АЗИЯ: АКТУАЛЬНЫЕ ПРОБЛЕМЫ РАЗВИТИЯ, 2020, №2(47), 45-64

 
Annotation: The author attempts to provide a retrospective analysis of the coronavirus epidemic development in Myanmar, starting with the first cases of recorded infections. The specifics of the problem are the common border with China, which is more than 2000 km long, and the extremely low level of national health care. Given that General parliamentary elections are scheduled for the end of 2020, the actions of the main rivals − civil and military politicians, in the new conditions become particularly important. The article shows the difficulties of fighting coronavirus in areas not controlled by the center and in the conditions of ongoing military operations in certain regions. The situation is also difficult in camps for displaced persons affected by the war. A complicating factor has also been the return of tens of thousands of migrant workers from neighboring countries.

Keywords: Myanmar, coronavirus, China, national health care