The closure will continue until further notice, according to Kayin State Hluttaw MP U Thant Zin Aung.





He said the instruction to close the gates came from Colonel Saw Chit Thu, general secretary of Kayin State Border Guard Forces (BGF).

"All Myawady (Thailand-Myanmar) border gates under BGF will be closed starting today, until further notice," U Thant Zin Aung said.

There are about 30 illegal border routes between Thailand and Myanmar. Despite the announcement to close the gates, people were still seen passing crossing to and from Thailand until late Wednesday, and residents are worried.

Myanmar has yet to confirm a COVID-19 case since the outbreak was first reported in Wuhan, China, on December 31. On the other hand, Thailand reported 212 confirmed cases with one death. The Thai government reported that 42 of those infected have fully recovered from the disease.

"We sent three foreigners back this morning,” said U Thant Zin Aung. “We will continue watching. We will enforce the entry ban until the next statement is released. Thousands of workers return to Myanmar daily and we carefully scrutinise them."

Daw Thin Thin Myat, chair of Myawady Border Traders Association, said authorities are closely watching some illegal routes people might use to enter Myanmar.

"If they come via official routes, the officials spray pesticides on the bridge daily and take temperatures,” she said. “The Red Cross and the ward administrators strictly patrol the region."





Ministries and agencies are discussing closing other borders across the country amid the escalation of the disease, which has spread to 158 countries and territories.

Aside from Thailand, Myanmar also shares borders with Bangladesh, India, China and Laos. - Translated