Taskforce urges vigilance as virus-free run continues

The National Taskforce Committee for COVID-19 Prevention and Control has called on officials at all levels to continue their efforts to apply the successful preventative measures under the Prime Minister’s Order No. 6.
The call came yesterday as Laos recorded no new COVID-19 cases for 16 consecutive days, with 12 people still being treated in Vientiane and Luang Prabang hospitals for the virus while seven recovered patients have already been discharged.

Standing Deputy Head of the National Taskforce Committee for COVID-19 Prevention and Control, Associate Prof. Dr Phouthone Muongpak, yesterday disclosed the news during a press conference in the capital.   Successful implementation of the national lockdown by authorities and the public has been recognised as a significant factor in the promising results. 
Under the Prime Minister’s Order, dated March 29, everyone was initially instructed to stay at home from April 1-19 to contain the spread of the deadly virus, and this was subsequently extended up to May 3. 
Dr Phouthone reported that 74 samples were tested for the coronavirus on Monday. All the test results were negative.
Local authorities needed to keep applying the measures put in place to prevent the spread of the virus, as stated in Prime Minister’s Order No. 6, he said.
From January up to April 25, a total of 1,735 people were tested, and 19 were found to be infected with the coronavirus.
Between March 9 and April 25, a total of 313 people were monitored for the disease, and 308 completed the 14-day quarantine period.
People entering Laos from Thailand, mainly truck drivers bringing freight, continue to be checked for the coronavirus as well those coming from Vietnam and China.
The temperature of each person entering the country was checked at all border crossings with none showing signs of fever.
According to the Ministry of Health as of April 28, the coronavirus had spread to 210 countries and territories, with 3,042,444 confirmed cases globally (70,805 new infections).
The virus has claimed 211,216 lives while more than 894,337 people have recovered.

By Phetphoxay  Sengpaseuth
(Latest Update April 29, 2020)