Another Catholic priest dies of COVID-19 in Myanmar

A Catholic priest died of COVID-19 in the Diocese of Kalay in Myanmar a week after two priests from the same diocese succumbed to the disease.

Monsignor Martin Suan Khan Mung, vicar general of the diocese, passed away at the age of 63 on Tuesday, June 29, at Royal City Clinic in Kalay City.

The priest was interred on the same day at St. Theresa Parish in Tahan, where he served as parish priest.

Father Martin was born on April 12, 1958, and was ordained priest on March 23, 1985.

Bishop John Hsane Hgyi of the Diocese of Pathein expressed his condolences to the family and friends of Monsignor Martin.

Last week, two Catholic priests also died in the Diocese of Kalay.

The priests were identified as Father Florian Zam Khaw Kam, 48, and Father Timothy Thang Do Cin, 52. They were the first Catholic priests who died of COVID-19 in Myanmar.

Father Florian was parish priest of Suangpi in Tedim Township. He died on June 24 at the Civil Hospital in Tedim Myo. The priest has been suffering from lung problems even before the pandemic.

Father Timothy, meanwhile, was parish priest of Sawbua Yeshan. He died on June 14 at the Diocesan Pastoral Centre in Kalaymyo. 

His family said the priest had high blood pressure and was suffering from diabetes. 

The two priests were laid to rest in their respective parishes on Friday, June 25.

Myanmar's health ministry reported 1,225 new cases of COVID-19 on Monday, the highest daily total since mid-December.

Some health experts say the real rate of infections is likely to be much higher than that indicated by the official figures, because testing collapsed after the coup.

Testing in the past week averaged around 5,500 tests a day compared to more than 17,000 a day in the week before the coup.

The rate of positive tests rose to nearly 19 percent on Monday - a much higher rate than before the coup and not far from its peak in October 2020. - Raymond Kyaw Aung/RVA News