The country has seen widespread protests against the coup that overthrew the elected government led by Aung Sang Suu Kyi.

NLD leader Aung San Suu Kyi has been detained since the coup.

Hundreds have died in the protests and many are in hospitals that are already overwhelmed because of the surge in Covid-19 cases. According to a Al Jazeera report, more than 900 people have been killed and thousands have been arrested in the protests.

Myanmar has so far reported 300,000 cases and 9,300 deaths, but the actual figures may be higher as the country has limited testing facilities, BBC reported.

Neither the military government or Tatmadaw, which has the de facto control of the country, nor the parallel government, made out of the remnant of the Aung Sang Suu Kyi's now removed administration, with its international influence, has managed to break the political impasse or helped control the raging pandemic coupled with deep economic crisis, said the Al Jazeera report cited above.

In the midst of all this, both sides are preparing to seek recognition from the United Nations where the Credentials Committee is scheduled to convene in September.

In a televised speech that ran for an hour, Min Aung Hlaing promised to hold a "free and fair multi-party election" but said the party he overthrew comprised "terrorists".

He accused those opposing the coup of deliberately spreading Covid-19 and said "fake news and misinformation via social networks" were being spread against his government's Covid policies.

According to a BBC report, the general spoke of containing the pandemic with lockdowns and vaccination. But people have said that they are being turned away from hospitals by the military and oxygen supply is also being restricted by the military.

The arrest of hundreds of doctors and many more in exile has jeopardised the health system raising questions about the military government's intent to tackle coronavirus.