"Health experts are advising people to avoid going to festivals and places were people gather, such as busy shopping centers and markets. “We should not hold festivals in Myanmar at the moment,” said Dr Khin Khin Gyi, deputy director of Contagious Disease Prevention and Eradication at the Department of Public Health. “It would be better if they are not held at all,” she added. “I want to urge people to take protective measures, and that means avoiding unnecessary exposure to the virus in public gatherings,” said Dr Khin Maung Lwin, director (retired) of the Ministry of Health and Sports. In a statement issued by the ministry, the government warned that “even those who have not come into contact with infected people, or those who have not travelled to high-risk countries, are at risk of contracting COVID-19”. Close contact with others in crowded places increases the risk of infection. “The most important thing is contact. If there are infected people near you, you can get infected,” said Dr Aung Tun, advisor to the Ministry of Health and Sports..."