6,835 Covid patients discharged from Laos hospitals

VIENTIANE (Vientiane Times/ANN): The proper treatment of people with Covid-19 is essential so that patients can be discharged from hospitals as soon as possible, according to the National Taskforce for Covid-19 Prevention and Control.

As of Wednesday (Aug 18), 6,835 Covid-19 patients were discharged from hospitals around the country after they twice tested negative for the virus.

Deputy Director of Mittaphab Hospital, Dr Vangnakhone Dittaphong, on Tuesday told Vientiane Times about the hospital’s Covid-19 treatment protocols.

The hospital has several isolation rooms which each accommodate one person.

The treatment of Covid-19 is taking place according to WHO guidelines on the diagnosis, treatment and control of the virus, he said.

Treatment methods are also being rolled out following advice from Chinese medical staff, who have successfully treated patients in China and have experience in infection control.

Lao health authorities are coordinating closely with their counterparts in China, who have experience in containing the virus and treating patients, Dr Vangnakhone said.

Doctors and nurses at the hospital are divided into teams and work on a seven-day rotation. After one week on duty, the members of each team are placed in quarantine and monitored for 14 days to check that they have not contracted the virus.

Previously, Lao and Chinese medical teams worked with local doctors and shared valuable lessons in dealing with the Covid-19 outbreak and patient treatment.

The Ministry of Health advises anyone with flu-like symptoms who has travelled to a virus outbreak area or had any contact with anyone in a high-risk virus group to get in touch with hospital staff. The hospital will provide free treatment for anyone who contracts the virus.

Selected hospitals in Vientiane and the provinces have set up emergency medical teams to treat people with less severe symptoms and are also fully prepared for a local outbreak, a member of the National Taskforce for Covid-19 Prevention and Control said.

Meanwhile, health officials are strengthening Covid-19 response measures and ensuring that members of the public have access to adequate healthcare.

The Ministry of Health has approved the use of a plant extract to treat the early stages of Covid-19 as part of a pilot programme amid a flare-up in the coronavirus outbreak.

Health officials urge everyone, including children, to continue to regularly wash their hands with soap, with their parents setting an example, and to wear a face mask when going out, especially when in a crowded place. It is especially important to observe the rules on social distancing. - Vientiane Times/Asia News Network