In the light of the announcement of the Who and the rapid escalation of the spread of COVID-19 across the globe, the Government of Myanmar is obliged to take precautionary measures to control and limit the risk that the travelers from seriously affected regions may affect to the populations in Myanmar.
According to the government of Myanmar, the country will quarantine or turn away foreign tourists who come from Korea, China, Italy, Germany, France, Spain, the USA, and Iran - those countries that are hit the worst by COVID-19, a tourism organization said Sunday.
The Union of Myanmar Travel Association confirmed that the government is preparing to quarantine or turn away tourists who travel from the eight countries above.
U Aung Tun Lin, chair of the association, said the government will quarantine or turn away travelers come from 15 countries that are most suffering from the virus.
With regard to travelers who had visited countries with a very high number of cases, the following measures will take effect starting from 15 March 2020:
- All incoming foreign nationals who had been in high-risk areas such as Hubei Province of China, Daegu and Gyeongbuk Regions of the Republic of Korea in the past 14 days shall not be permitted entry into Myanmar until further notice. All Myanmar nationals who had been in those high-risk areas shall be subjected to 14-day facility quarantine on their arrival in Myanmar.
- All incoming travelers including Myanmar nationals, who had been in the Republic of Korea outside those high-risk areas in the past 14 days, shall be subjected to 14-day home quarantine on their arrival in Myanmar. They will also need to present Medical Certificate, issued by a medical facility recognized by the health authorities of the ROK of having no symptoms of the acute respiratory illness (fever and cough or shortness of breath) before boarding any airline destined to Myanmar (earlier instruction on the requirement of Covid-19 negative medical certificate for all travelers coming from ROK, Italy, and Iran is hereby repealed.)
- All incoming travelers including Myanmar nationals who have arrived from or have visited Italy, Iran, Spain, and Germany in the past 14 days shall be subjected to 14-day facility quarantine on their arrival in Myanmar. As for diplomats accredited to Myanmar and the resident United Nationals officials, they will be encouraged to take 14-day home quarantine on their arrival in Myanmar. All are required to present the valid Medical Certificate issued by a medical facility recognized by the health authorities of the respective countries, of having no symptoms of acute respiratory illness (fever and cough or shortness of breath) before boarding any airline destine to Myanmar.
- However, diplomats accredited to Myanmar, members of the resident UN officials and any foreign national who intends to travel to Myanmar on compelling reason or on an important official mission may contact the nearest Myanmar Missions for necessary entry visa and for ease of the quarantine procedure.