Myanmar reports biggest daily rise in coronavirus infections

Yangon

Myanmar reported 70 new coronavirus infections on Wednesday, the Southeast Asian nation’s biggest daily rise, amid a recent resurgence of the virus after weeks without confirmed domestic transmission. Myanmar’s outbreaks have been relatively small compared with other countries in the region after it found its first case in March, with only six deaths and 574 infections reported so far.

Health authorities say detected among recent infections was a mutation now being reported in Malaysia, which has been found in Europe, North America and parts of Asia, and is thought to be more infectious.

The health ministry did not say where the 70 new cases were found. Most recent infections have been in Sittwe, the capital of conflict-torn Rakhine state, where authorities have imposed a lockdown, stay-at-home order and a curfew, according to Reuters.