COVID-19 Deaths Rising Sharply in Myanmar’s Mandalay Volunteers remove the body of a COVID-19 victim in Mandalay. / Zaw Zaw / The Irrawaddy 4.0k By Thiha Lwin 18 December 2020 Naypyitaw — Mandalay Region is seeing the second-largest number of COVID-19 cases after Yangon Region, and deaths have increased daily, according to the Ministry of Health and Sports. More than 10,000 cases have been reported in Mandalay Region with over 300 new cases on average per day. As of Thursday, the region reported 10,433 cases and 141 deaths and set a single-day record of 363 new cases. Of seven districts in the region, Mandalay District was hit hardest with 8,469 coronavirus cases. Thirteen people died from COVID-19 in Mandalay Region on Wednesday, and 10 of the deaths were in Mandalay District, where semi-lockdown is in effect.