“We’ve distributed the test kits to all regions and states, and we’ve also donated some. Another batch of 250,000 test kits arrived last week. Of the total 900,000 test kits expected, we’ve received about 700,000 so far,” he said.

The government ordered 200,000 antigen test kits in September and procured another 700,000, including WHO-approved antigen test kits from a South Korean company, which can show rapid results for COVID-19 and have 95pc accuracy for positivity and 98pc for negativity, he said.

Antigen test kits have been used for testing for COVID-19 at nine hospitals in Yangon Region since September 29.

“Test results vary from person to person. The test kit doesn’t identify the infection in an asymptomatic person who shows normal health conditions. The antigen test is more effective if it is done two days before the symptoms develop. Its weakness is that it can only identify the infection when the amount of the virus is large enough in the swab sample,” he said.

The average incubation period of COVID-19 is 2-14 days. The test kit can show a right result only if it is carried out on symptomatic persons; it can’t produce the right result if done on a person five days before he or she develops the COVID-19 symptoms, he said. - Translated