Myanmar imposes tighter virus restrictions in main city

Myanmar, faced with a rapidly rising number of coronavirus cases and deaths, has imposed the tightest restrictions so far to fight the spread of the disease.

The measures cover Yangon, the country's biggest city and main transportation hub, and were announced on Sunday by Health Minister Dr Myint Htwe.

Measures effective on Monday allow just one person per household out of their homes for shopping, and two for hospital visits, although a driver is also permitted when traveling by car.

Wearing face masks is mandatory.

All office staff must work from home, while factories, finishing and construction enterprises must halt operations from Sept 24 to October 7.

Personnel of essential services, including banks, gas stations, food shops and pharmacies are exempt from the order.

Travel out of Yangon was already banned and all domestic flights grounded on September 11.

Until an upsurge in coronavirus cases last month in the western state of Rakhine, Myanmar had appeared to have largely been spared from the pandemic, having recorded just 353 virus cases as of the beginning of August.

The country as of Monday has 5,805 confirmed cases, including 97 deaths.