VIENTIANE: Ten border checkpoints used to enter and exit Laos have been ordered to shut down temporarily on Monday (March 16) to help curb the spread of Covid-19 (coronavirus) with the remaining international checkpoints to monitor all arrivals closely.
The ten border crossings instructed to close include six Lao-Vietnamese checkpoints: Panghok international checkpoint in Phongsaly province, Nam Soy checkpoint in Huaphanh, Namkan checkpoint in Xieng Khuang, Phoukeua checkpoint in Attapeu, Daktaok border crossing in Sekong, and Nam Phao checkpoint in Bolikhamxay province.
Those on the Laos-Thai border consist of Namheuang and Nam Ngeun checkpoints in Xayabouly province, and Na Pao checkpoint in Khammuan, as well as Savannakhet International Airport.
Director General of the Department of Communicable Disease Control, under the Ministry of Health, Dr Rattanaxay Phetsouvanh, told a press conference last week about the closure of the border checkpoints and warned the public to refrain from non-essential cross-border travel such as shopping trips.
Authorities said Laos people should rely on official information outlets to stay informed about the evolving situation while the threat of the virus persists.
At present, health officials have admitted that it was a challenge to prevent people infected with the virus from entering the country given that carriers may have no symptoms during the first one to two weeks of infection.
In light of the spread of the virus, would-be travellers to outbreak countries or even to parts of the world with few or no cases should carefully consider their plans.
Everyone is instructed to wash their hands with soap and water, especially after touching surfaces or coming into contact with someone who has been coughing. - Vientiane Times/ANN
The ten border crossings instructed to close include six Lao-Vietnamese checkpoints: Panghok international checkpoint in Phongsaly province, Nam Soy checkpoint in Huaphanh, Namkan checkpoint in Xieng Khuang, Phoukeua checkpoint in Attapeu, Daktaok border crossing in Sekong, and Nam Phao checkpoint in Bolikhamxay province.
Those on the Laos-Thai border consist of Namheuang and Nam Ngeun checkpoints in Xayabouly province, and Na Pao checkpoint in Khammuan, as well as Savannakhet International Airport.
Director General of the Department of Communicable Disease Control, under the Ministry of Health, Dr Rattanaxay Phetsouvanh, told a press conference last week about the closure of the border checkpoints and warned the public to refrain from non-essential cross-border travel such as shopping trips.
Authorities said Laos people should rely on official information outlets to stay informed about the evolving situation while the threat of the virus persists.
At present, health officials have admitted that it was a challenge to prevent people infected with the virus from entering the country given that carriers may have no symptoms during the first one to two weeks of infection.
In light of the spread of the virus, would-be travellers to outbreak countries or even to parts of the world with few or no cases should carefully consider their plans.
Everyone is instructed to wash their hands with soap and water, especially after touching surfaces or coming into contact with someone who has been coughing. - Vientiane Times/ANN
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