Central, southern provinces step up border controls

Authorities in central and southern provinces that share borders with Thailand are taking action to prevent the spread of Covid-19 by setting up more checkpoints and patrolling border areas to prevent more imported cases of the virus.
In Savannakhet, officials are carrying out checks on everyone entering the province and are stepping up border patrols.
The Governor of Savannakhet province, Mr Santiphab Phomvihane, last week visited checkpoints in Champhon district to monitor compliance with government guidelines to curb the spread of the virus.
Champhon authorities reported that from April 28-May 5 there were 13 checkpoints in the district and almost 1,000 people passed through them.
Twenty-four Lao workers returning from Thailand were sent to a quarantine centre in Kaysone Phomvihane city.
Mr Santiphab praised officials for ensuring that virus prevention measures were being complied with.
Authorities and soldiers are patrolling the Lao-Thai border along the Mekong River to prevent people entering Laos illegally and avoiding screening for Covid-19.
According to the National Taskforce for Covid-19 Prevention and Control, as of May 11, a total of 50 people in Savannakhet province had tested positive for the virus.
In Champassak province, authorities are instructing people to comply with enhanced measures to prevent the spread of the virus until at least May 21.
The province’s Health Department reported that as of May 11, a total of 188 people had contracted the virus, of which 71 were Lao workers returning from Thailand.
On May 12, 21 returning workers tested positive for Covid-19.
Authorities are patrolling the Lao-Thai border to prevent people entering Champassak illegally.
Meanwhile, authorities in Xekong are monitoring the spread of the virus and have medical staff and equipment on standby, although only person in the province has tested positive for Covid-19.
Director of the province’s Health Department, Dr Khamlai Santiphoum, said only one case of the virus had been recorded and that person was now in hospital in Champassak. A total of 251 people were tested for the virus and all returned negative results.
However, Xekong is at risk for the spread of the virus because it shares borders with provinces where infections have been recorded.
In a bid to protect the province from a virus outbreak, Dr Khamlai called on everyone to continue to comply with the measures laid down by the National Taskforce for Covid-19 Prevent and Control.

By Phomphong Laoin
(Latest Update May 13, 2021)