Laos: Cases keep rising as health ministry announces 1,702 new Covid-19 cases and four deaths on Friday night (Dec 17)

VIENTIANE, Oct 18 (Vientiane Times/ANN): The National Taskforce for Covid-19 Prevention and Control on Friday night (Dec 17) announced 1,702 new cases of Covid, along with four more deaths from the virus.

The new cases were identified after 6,369 tests were conducted across the country over the previous 24 hours.

One of those who died was a 55-year-old farmer in Tonpheung district, Bokeo province. She had hypertension and diabetes but had been fully vaccinated.

Another fatality was a 51-year-old teacher in Huayxai district, Bokeo province. He suffered from some degree of paralysis but had been fully vaccinated.

A 35-year-old inmate at a prison in Huayxai district, Bokeo province, also died. He had pneumonia and had not been vaccinated against Covid-19.

The fourth fatality was a 58-year-old man from Phonhong district in Vientiane province. He had hypertension and had not been vaccinated against Covid-19.

Vientiane reported the highest number of new cases with 914, while Luang Prabang province reported 91 new cases.

Bokeo province reported 146 new cases, Savannakhet province 46, Vientiane province 44, Champassak province 26, and Khammuan province 23.

There are currently 12,300 active cases of Covid-19 in Laos, with 266 confirmed deaths and 96,256 cases in total.

Meanwhile, 534 people recovered from the virus and were discharged from hospitals around the country on Friday. - Vientiane Times/ANN