As the anti-coup protests continued, Myanmar reported 4,320 cases on Friday, setting a new record for the second day in a row, with 63 deaths.

The military ruler of Myanmar announced that Russia will send 2 million doses of the coronavirus vaccine from this month as the Southeast Asian country has reported new COVID-19 cases and death records.

General Min Aung Lai led the coup against the elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi on February 1. He said that the virus was spreading rapidly in Myanmar, and senior Russian defense officials told him that he was being provided with vaccines.

“I told them I wanted 2 million, and they would give it,” he said in a speech on the Myawaddy TV station owned by the army.

Myanmar reported 4,320 cases on Friday, setting a record for the second day in a row, with 63 deaths.

Min Aung Hlaing said last month that he was seeking 7 million doses of Russian vaccine.

Myanmar is in the midst of the worst wave of infections to date. After the military seized power, the nation’s political chaos hindered efforts to control the epidemic.

There are also reports of a COVID outbreak in its prisons, including the notorious Yongsheng Prison. According to reports, at least 40 prisoners tested positive on Thursday.

At the beginning of the pandemic, many prisoners in Yongsheng Prison became ill and some died, but few prisoners were tested for COVID-19.

In general, some health experts say that the actual infection rate in Myanmar may be much higher because of the decline in testing since the coup and health workers participated in strike protests.

Hugs of moscow

Russia is one of the few countries that openly accept the military government, which has been condemned globally for its coup and its fatal suppression of democratic groups.

The military government stated that most of those killed or arrested were “terrorists” who incited violence.

Min Aung Hlaing said that Myanmar is eager to manufacture its own COVID-19 vaccine, and Russia hopes to cooperate and send a delegation to inspect its production plants this month. He did not elaborate.

As the COVID pandemic rages, protests against the military government continue to occur in many areas of the country.

Protesters in Pakan, Kachin State, marched against the Burmese military government this afternoon (July 9).

Photo: CJ#Myanmar what happened pic.twitter.com/P5Lg4rjIPc

-Myanmar Now (@Myanmar_Now_Eng) July 9, 2021

According to social media posts, masked protesters staged a dawn strike on Saturday in Langlong Township in Tanintharyi District, condemning Min Aung Hlaing and calling for the restoration of civil rule.

In Pyikyi Takon in Mandalay, Kachin State, several protesters, including a monk, staged a candlelight strike on Friday night, calling for the abolition of the military dictatorship.

The photo also shows women in Winto Township, Sagaing County praying for peace in Myanmar and protesting against the military leadership.

According to social media reports, the arrests are continuing. According to reports, security forces raided a house in Thaketa and arrested five civilians without a warrant, including the mother of a protester and his two. Brothers.

Duvalash, acting president of the opposition National Unity Government, said in a statement on Friday that the military “has always used the virus outbreak as an opportunity to suppress the opposition and has no sympathy for the suffering of the public.”

According to the Political Prisoners Aid Association, a human rights organization, 898 people have been killed by the military government since the start of the coup. At least 5,127 people are currently detained or sentenced, while 1,963 people evaded arrest.