Myanmar's New Year festival of Thingyan is the country's biggest public holiday -- normally a week of nation-wide celebration and water-fights, with soaked revellers partying late into the night.

A combination photo shows a street scene from normal celebrations for Thingyan a few years ago compared to this year's festival
A combination photo shows a street scene from normal celebrations for Thingyan a few years ago compared to this year's festival AFP / Ye Aung THU

But this year, in an echo of cancelled Easter celebrations elsewhere in the world, the country's commercial hub Yangon is locked down, with residents confined indoors because of the coronavirus.

Food delivery bicycles and rickshaws have commandeered the city's usually traffic-choked streets after the government ordered people to stay home unless for essential food and healthcare needs.

Punks gathered in a Yangon park to celebrate the New Year water festival in 2019, but this year it was deserted
Punks gathered in a Yangon park to celebrate the New Year water festival in 2019, but this year it was deserted AFP / Ye Aung THU

By Sunday Myanmar officially had just 38 confirmed cases -- including three deaths -- but many fear the low number of tests mean the real figures are likely many times higher.

Yangon's streets are usually packed with revellers during the water festival, but this year everyone has been ordered to stay indoors because of the lockdown
Yangon's streets are usually packed with revellers during the water festival, but this year everyone has been ordered to stay indoors because of the lockdown AFP / Ye Aung Thu

Images from last year's holiday show a different city, hoses drenching cheering crowds dancing to deafening techno beats pumped out from mammoth loudspeakers.

This year the silence is broken only by the cawing of crows and cooing of pigeons, and the motor of an occasional taxi searching for custom.

"Thingyan's in the heart of every Myanmar person," a sad Soe Moe Aung, 36, told AFP.

Both the public holiday and lockdown is due to end next Sunday, but efforts to prevent the spread of coronavirus could be extended.

Yangon-based public health expert Dr Frank Smithuis warns any sustained lockdown would be "devastating" for Myanmar -- and other under-developed countries in the region -- where many live hand-to-mouth.

Coronavirus Easter