VIENTIANE: Laos Prime Minister Thongloun Sisoulith on Tuesday (March 17) has ordered the temporary closure of preschools and kindergartens across the country amid the ongoing outbreak of coronavirus in many countries.
The closure, which will take effect on Tuesday, was ordered despite there being no confirmed case in Laos as of Monday.
Speaking to local media during his working visit in Vientiane to inspect frontline coronavirus screening efforts on Monday, the prime minister instructed the National Task Force Committee for Covid-19 (coronavirus) Prevention and Control to work with the Ministry of Education and Sports to carry out the closure.
"After the end of (Laos) New Year (in April), talks will be held (to review the situation)," local daily Vientiane Times quoted the prime minister as saying. The Lao New Year falls in mid-April.
The Task Force Committee on Monday issued a proposal letter asking the Ministry of Education and Sports to consider issuing an announcement to impose the closure. The closure is to avoid the risk of virus infections among young children, it said.
The closure will be imposed till the outbreak is under control, said the letter.
In addition, the Lao government has temporarily close all local border checkpoints, also known as traditional checkpoints, but international checkpoints, which have advanced scanning and preventive equipment and medical staff, are still in service. - Xinhua/Asian News Network
The closure, which will take effect on Tuesday, was ordered despite there being no confirmed case in Laos as of Monday.
Speaking to local media during his working visit in Vientiane to inspect frontline coronavirus screening efforts on Monday, the prime minister instructed the National Task Force Committee for Covid-19 (coronavirus) Prevention and Control to work with the Ministry of Education and Sports to carry out the closure.
"After the end of (Laos) New Year (in April), talks will be held (to review the situation)," local daily Vientiane Times quoted the prime minister as saying. The Lao New Year falls in mid-April.
The Task Force Committee on Monday issued a proposal letter asking the Ministry of Education and Sports to consider issuing an announcement to impose the closure. The closure is to avoid the risk of virus infections among young children, it said.
The closure will be imposed till the outbreak is under control, said the letter.
In addition, the Lao government has temporarily close all local border checkpoints, also known as traditional checkpoints, but international checkpoints, which have advanced scanning and preventive equipment and medical staff, are still in service. - Xinhua/Asian News Network
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