VIENTIANE, July 27 (The Vientiane Times/ANN): The National Taskforce Committee for Covid-19 Prevention and Control has confirmed that it is carefully monitoring 109 passengers on the same flight with a South Korean national who has been confirmed as the 20th coronavirus case in Laos.
The committee verified and reconformed on Saturday that this was the first official case inside the country after 102 days without infection.
Deputy Head of the National Taskforce Committee for Covid-19 Prevention and Control, Associate Prof. Dr Phouthone Muongpak told a press conference on Friday that the patient is in good condition.
The South Korean man was undergoing self-isolation at a hotel and avoiding coming into contact with or getting close to other people, he said.
“It is not only the 109 passengers on the same flight with the Korean man, but every person at the quarantine centre at Km27 in Vientiane must have their temperature checked and undergo a free health examination on a daily basis, checking for flu-like symptoms, coughing, and breathing difficulties, while also regularly washing their hands,” Dr Phouthone explained.
The Korean man is a 32-year-old electrical technician with a hydropower project in Laos, and prior to arriving in the country, he experienced no symptoms and tested negative for Covid-19.
He had been staying with his family before departing for Laos, and no other members of his family had exhibited symptoms. He has been quarantined at a hotel in the capital as per the regulations, Dr Phouthone said. The man took a minivan to his hotel alongside five others. Since then, he has remained in the hotel, eating and sleeping in his designated room, in accordance with quarantine measures.
His temperature is being taken twice daily by hotel staff. It has been confirmed that he had neither left his room nor was anyone allowed to enter to clean the room, as per standard hotel quarantine procedures, he added.
According to a report by the committee on July 18, the man departed from Japan (Osaka-Tokyo flight), passing through Incheon, South Korea, before arriving in Laos on flight QV922A, with 109 passengers. He had been travelling with four friends on the same flight.
On July 22, health officials and district authorities undertook a routine test of all hotel guests. On July 23, a positive test result for Covid-19 was read at 9pm, and the man was promptly taken to Mittaphab Friendship Hospital in Vientiane for treatment.
“Let us be clear about this. This is not a second wave. This is an isolated case that has been in quarantine ever since he arrived in Laos,” Dr Phouthone said.
Local health authorities have thoroughly disinfected the van, hotel room, and aircraft where the man had been.
In addition, all passengers and cabin crew on the QV flight, including 17 people who have been identified as having had close contact with him, have tested negative.
All of the abovementioned individuals are currently in a 14-day quarantine and are being closely monitored. - Vientiane Times/Asian News Network
The committee verified and reconformed on Saturday that this was the first official case inside the country after 102 days without infection.
Deputy Head of the National Taskforce Committee for Covid-19 Prevention and Control, Associate Prof. Dr Phouthone Muongpak told a press conference on Friday that the patient is in good condition.
The South Korean man was undergoing self-isolation at a hotel and avoiding coming into contact with or getting close to other people, he said.
“It is not only the 109 passengers on the same flight with the Korean man, but every person at the quarantine centre at Km27 in Vientiane must have their temperature checked and undergo a free health examination on a daily basis, checking for flu-like symptoms, coughing, and breathing difficulties, while also regularly washing their hands,” Dr Phouthone explained.
The Korean man is a 32-year-old electrical technician with a hydropower project in Laos, and prior to arriving in the country, he experienced no symptoms and tested negative for Covid-19.
He had been staying with his family before departing for Laos, and no other members of his family had exhibited symptoms. He has been quarantined at a hotel in the capital as per the regulations, Dr Phouthone said. The man took a minivan to his hotel alongside five others. Since then, he has remained in the hotel, eating and sleeping in his designated room, in accordance with quarantine measures.
His temperature is being taken twice daily by hotel staff. It has been confirmed that he had neither left his room nor was anyone allowed to enter to clean the room, as per standard hotel quarantine procedures, he added.
According to a report by the committee on July 18, the man departed from Japan (Osaka-Tokyo flight), passing through Incheon, South Korea, before arriving in Laos on flight QV922A, with 109 passengers. He had been travelling with four friends on the same flight.
On July 22, health officials and district authorities undertook a routine test of all hotel guests. On July 23, a positive test result for Covid-19 was read at 9pm, and the man was promptly taken to Mittaphab Friendship Hospital in Vientiane for treatment.
“Let us be clear about this. This is not a second wave. This is an isolated case that has been in quarantine ever since he arrived in Laos,” Dr Phouthone said.
Local health authorities have thoroughly disinfected the van, hotel room, and aircraft where the man had been.
In addition, all passengers and cabin crew on the QV flight, including 17 people who have been identified as having had close contact with him, have tested negative.
All of the abovementioned individuals are currently in a 14-day quarantine and are being closely monitored. - Vientiane Times/Asian News Network
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