Concerns escalate following spike in locally-transmitted Covid cases

New clusters of Covid-19 infections recorded in recent days have triggered rising fears of fresh community outbreaks of the highly contagious Delta variant of the virus.
The number of locally-transmitted cases is rising among communities in Vientiane and the provinces, forcing authorities to reinforce control measures to keep the virus from spreading.
Authorities in several provinces have ordered lockdowns and postponement of the new school year in a bid to flatten the infection-rate curve.
Laos has now recorded 15,015 cases of Covid-19 after 199 new cases were confirmed on Tuesday, Deputy Director General of the Communicable Diseases Control Department, Dr Sisavath Soutthaniraxay, told a press briefing.
Of the total, 64 cases were locally-transmitted, with 24 recorded in Vientiane, Savannakhet province (14), Bokeo (11), Luang Namtha (8), Saravan (3), Khammuan (2), Oudomxay (1) and Champassak (1).
Meanwhile the 135 imported cases include Vientiane (4), Borikhamxay province (2), Khammuan (5), Saravan (19), Champassak (51) and Savannakhet (54).
In Vientiane, locally-transmitted cases have been linked to workplaces with government officials and company staff contracting the virus.
The 24 new community-acquired cases reported in the capital were identified among people who had contact with infected people working for Beerlao, Pepsi and a transport company in Thaphalanxay village.
In the meantime, the Ministry of Information, Culture and Tourism has been classified as an at-risk area after an official tested positive for Covid-19.
Authorities are attempting to trace people who had contact with the official and asking them to quarantine.
Other at-risk places include Nongbuathong School of Political Studies, the CKL factory in Xaysettha district’s Xiengda village, and other businesses.
Dr Sisavath urged members of the public to strictly follow all measures imposed by the government to contain the spread of the virus.
Local residents are asked not to hold parties or travel to at-risk areas while also following the guidelines on wearing a face mask, social distancing, and using hand sanitiser.
Meanwhile the government is expediting the vaccination programme to ensure that all target groups are inoculated. 
“Many people misunderstand the facts around vaccination,” Dr Sisavath said. “Inoculation boosts the body’s immune response and helps prevent hospitalisation and fatalities. However, a vaccinated person can contract and spread the virus, especially the Delta variant.”
So far, more than 2.4 million people have received a first dose of a Covid vaccine, representing 33.3 percent of the population, while almost 1.8 million people have received two doses, accounting for 24.4 percent.
According to the Covid-19 taskforce, 13 red zone (infected villages) have been reported in four districts of Vientiane.
These are Xaythany district (Chaleunxay, Dongdok and Khamhoung villages), Sangthong district (Kua village), Sisattanak district (Thaphalanxay and Chomphet Neua villages) and Hadxaifong district (Dondou, Simmanou Neua, Simmanou Tai, Nong-heo, Nongvaeng, Dongkhamxang and Thapha villages).

By Somsack Pongkkhao
  (Latest Update September 1, 2021)