Laos health officials step up Covid-19 checks on migrant workers as local cases continue to rise in country

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VIENTIANE, Sept 7 (Xinhua): Lao health officials will beef up screening and quarantine procedures for Lao nationals returning from Thailand, in a bid to stem the spread of Covid-19 infections.

As Covid-19 spread in Thailand, Laos is at greater risk of the highly infectious Delta variant, especially if people enter Laos from Thailand illegally and avoid screening, local daily Vientiane Times reported on Tuesday (sept 7.

Thousands of Lao nationals are returning from Thailand during the pandemic, according to the National Taskforce Committee for COVID-19 Prevention and Control.

Over the past week, the number of infections among frontline workers increased dramatically, affecting nurses, police officers, military personnel and customs officials.

The Ministry of Health observed that many people continue to take Covid-19 precautions lightly, particularly in offices, quarantine centers, hospitals and other places.

The Lao Ministry of Health on Tuesday reported 221 more imported Covid-19 cases and 86 new locally transmitted cases, bringing the total number of coronavirus infections to 16,365.

A total of 11,330 Covid-19 patients have recovered from the pandemic and been discharged from hospitals.

Laos reported its first two confirmed cases of Covid-19 on March 24 last year. - Xinhua