VIENTIANE, Feb 3 (NNN-KPL) – The Lao government instructed local authorities to carefully monitor people entering Laos, and quarantine returning workers, to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
Deputy Director General of the Department of Communicable Diseases Control, under the Lao Ministry of Health, Phonepaserd Sayamoungkhoun, said that, local authorities must closely monitor borders, to prevent the illegal entry of Lao laborers returning from neighbouring countries, in a bid to avoid a second wave of COVID-19.
People entering Laos, especially returning workers, will be sent to quarantine centres for 14 days, to prevent people from bringing the virus to the country. All people at quarantine centres must have their temperature checked every day.
On Monday, a total of 2,600 people entered Laos through international border checkpoints. Of these, 1,281 crossed the border with Thailand.
A total of 41 people entered Laos from China, while 1,119 people entered from Vietnam, and 159 entered via Wattay International Airport, in the capital, Vientiane.
At all border crossings, temperature of each person entering Laos was checked and no one showed signs of fever. The National Taskforce Committee for COVID-19 Prevention and Control said, it was monitoring 2,588 people at 33 accommodation centres.
As of yesterday, Laos tested 104,212 suspected cases, with 44 cases testing positive, and 41 patients have recovered.
Laos detected its first two COVID-19 cases on Mar 24, last year.– NNN-KPL
