The Lao national committee in charge of Covid-19 prevention and control on Monday urged relevant authorities and people nationwide to effectively implement the prime minister’s order as the number of virus cases rose to nine.
“The government has enhanced measures to deal with [Covid-19] PM order No 06/PM dated March 9, 2020,” Standing Member of the National Taskforce Committee for Covid-19 Prevention and Control, Dr Phouthone Muongpak told a press conference on Monday.
“[The committee] would like to relevant authorities to closely monitor the implementation of the PM order to ensure its effectiveness,” he said.
Dr Phouthone who is also Deputy Minister of Health, announced the committee’s call after giving an update on the Covid-19 situation in the country, highlighting that the number of cases continues to climb.
The government has imposed key measures to restrict free movement. From April 1, all people, except for officials assigned to fight against Covid-19 as well as other essential jobs nationwide, have been ordered to stay at home until April 19.
The measure aims to curb the number of infections in the country as the government believes social distancing will prevent people from spreading the virus to others.
The media release said the committee confirmed another Covid-19 case on Tuesday, lifting the number of cases in Laos from only two last week to nine. The situation provided a strong signal for the government, relevant authorities and people nationwide to join hands against Covid-19.
The additional case was discovered following the testing of 64 suspected samples. Of this number, only one test returned positive.
Over the past several days, the committee tested 364 suspected cases. The latest case involved a 22-year-old woman from Phonphanao village, Xaysettha district, Vientiane. She is currently being treated at Mittaphab Hospital in the capital.
The patient was described as having mild Covid-19 symptoms, such as fever, cough and runny nose. She was still able to help herself while being treated in the hospital.
Of the nine infected people, six are being cared for at Mittaphab Hospital while the other three are being treated in Luang Prabang Hospital.
On top of providing treatment to patients, Dr Phouthone said the government was paying attention to screening people travelling into the country. About 3,122 entered Laos on March 29. Of this number, 2,141 entered Laos by land across the Mekong border. Some four of these incoming people were found with fever.
VIENTIANE TIMES/ASIA NEWS NETWORK
