More Covid-19 patients likely to be discharged

Some of the 17 people currently in hospital after contracting Covid-19 were set to return home yesterday if they tested twice negative for the virus.
The 17 patients are in the care of doctors at Mittaphab Hospital and no longer have any symptoms. Two other people have already been discharged from the hospital after making a full recovery.

The media was given an update on the latest developments at a press conference held yesterday by the National Taskforce Committee for Covid-19 Prevention and Control.
Deputy Minister of Health Dr Phouthone Muongpak asked everyone to cooperate with the lockdown restrictions and to stay at home, as instructed by a Prime Minister’s Order to prevent the spread of the virus. The Order was put in force for the period April 1-19, permitting people to travel only when essential, and was later extended until May 3.
For nine consecutive days there have been no new confirmed infections. However, it is vital that people continue to comply with the restrictions on movement in order to curb the spread of the virus and prevent a second outbreak.
If there are no more confirmed cases by May 3 and only 19 people are known to have been infected by that date, it will be assumed that the virus has been brought under control and the outbreak has come to an end.
Dr Phouthone called on the general public and businesses to continue to refrain from travelling to their normal places of work, to work from home where possible, not to mix with other people, and to remain at home.
Anyone who thinks they have a fever should see a doctor so they can be tested for Covid-19.
People should continue to observe social distancing by remaining 1-2 metres from the nearest person, wash their hands frequently, not gather in groups for any reason, and wear a face mask.
In recent days 1,334 Lao nationals entered the country, while 529 crossed the border into Thailand. A total of 307 drivers crossed the border into China, 493 travelled from Laos to Vietnam, and five people crossed the border into Cambodia.
On April 20, 29 samples taken from 14 people in Vientiane, 10 from Xaysomboun province and five from Luang Prabang city all tested negative for Covid-19.

By Sangkhomsay Bubphanouvong
(Latest Update April 22, 2020)