Laos govt says country still on high alert on Covid-19; only three cases announced on Saturday (May 29)

VIENTIANE, May 29 (Vientiane Times/ANN): Although the number of new cases of Covid-19 continues to fall, the government is reinforcing measures to contain the spread of the virus.

On Saturday, only three new cases were confirmed, bringing the countrywide total to 1,908, according to the National Taskforce for Covid-19 Prevention and Control.

The new infections were discovered after 1,072 samples were tested for the virus.

Leading a press briefing on behalf of the taskforce on Saturday, Deputy Director General of the Department of Communicable Diseases Control of the Ministry of Health, Dr Phonepaseuth Xayamongkhoun, gave an update on the Covid outbreak.

One of the new cases was reported in Vientiane, one in Champassak, and one in Savannakhet.

The newly identified case in Vientiane was community-acquired, while those in Champassak and Savannakhet are believed to be imported.

While the number of known infections in Vientiane and the provinces has fallen to single digits, testing shows that case numbers are fluctuating, Dr Phonepaseuth said.

She urged everyone to act responsibly and to continue to comply with all of the Covid-19 prevention measures and lockdown rules.

More than 500 people have been admitted to 49 quarantine centres across the country and samples taken from them are being tested for the virus.

Health officials urge anyone who believes they have come into contact with an infected person to self-isolate for 14 days.

The taskforce said new strains of Covid-19 can affect everyone, including young children.

More than 1,400 people have been discharged from hospitals after recovering from Covid, while others still remain in Mitthaphab Hospital in Vientiane and in Savannakhet, Champassak, and Luang Prabang provincial hospitals until they twice test negative for the virus.

In the Asean bloc, Thailand has recorded the highest number of Covid-19 cases to date, with 3,759 more infections announced on May 29, bringing the total number to 144,976, the country's Public Health Ministry reported.

Myanmar reported 72 new infections, the highest daily toll since the start of the pandemic, raising the total number there to 143,486.

Vietnam reported 80 new cases on May 29, bringing the total tally to 6,396, of whom 47 people have died, according to the Vietnamese Ministry of Health. - Vientiane Times/ANN