Six more cases of Covid-19 bring total to 94
 
Another six people have tested positive for Covid-19 after 758 people were tested for the virus this week, bringing the total number of known cases to 94, the National Taskforce for Covid-19 Prevention and Control announced on Thursday.
Four of the new cases were identified in Vientiane, and one each in Savannakhet and Bokeo provinces.
The figures were reported by Deputy Minister of Health, Assoc. Prof. Dr Phouthone Muongpak, at a press conference on Thursday.
The spike in the number of new infections raises the likelihood of a widespread outbreak in Laos and comes as the number of cases surges in neighbouring countries.

Also speaking at the press conference, Director General of the National Centre for Laboratory and Epidemiology under the Ministry of Health, Dr Phonepadith Sangxayarath, said all of the six people who had tested positive for Covid-19 had come into contact with a woman from Vientiane who was found to have the virus last Wednesday.
The 89th person is a 24-year-old woman from Outhomphone district in Savannakhet province, who returned from Thailand where she had been working at a restaurant in Bangkok.
On April 19, she travelled from Bangkok to Mukdahan province in a group of eight and entered Laos at the second Lao-Thai Friendship Bridge in in Savannakhet.
The following day she provided a sample for testing which returned a positive result and she was taken to a self-isolation facility.
The 90th case is a 31-year-old man who works in Bokeo province. On April 19 he ate at the Poteng restaurant and then went to work as usual in Tonpheung district.
On April 21, he provided a sample for testing at the fourth Lao-Thai  Friendship Bridge and became unwell. On April 22, the sample returned a positive result and he was taken to a self isolation facility.
The 91st case is a 28 year old man from Saphanthong Neua village in Sisattanak district, Vientiane, who tested positive for Covid-19 on April 22.
The 92nd case is a 22-year-old woman from Nonghai village in Hadxaifong district, Vientiane. She has been isolated after testing positive for Covid-19 on April 21.
The 93rd case is a 25-year-old man from Beungkhayong village in Sisattanak district, Vientiane. On April 13 he travelled by bus in a group of 15 people from Vientiane to Vangvieng for Lao New Year.
On April 17,  he returned to Vientiane.  On April 21, he developed flu-like symptoms and went to Bungkhagnong Stadium to provide a sample, which tested positive for Covid-19 on April 22.
The 94th case is an 18-year-old man from That Luang village in Xaysettha district, Vientiane. On April 13, he went to a party at Diamond Karaoke in a group of 14 people. On April 19, he and six friends met at the 8118 Karaoke Bar in a room of 20 people. He tested positive for Covid-19 on April 22.
Forty-five people are currently in hospitals around the country after testing positive for Covid-19.

By Phetphoxay Sengpaseuth
(Latest Update April 23, 2021)