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Laos, Cambodia move to curb COVID-19 spread during new year festival

COVID-19 cases are projected to surge during Laos’ traditional new year festival in mid-April, the country’s Ministry of Health warned.
Laos, Cambodia move to curb COVID-19 spread during new year festival ảnh 1A COVID-19 vaccination site in Laos (Photo: Xinhua/VNA)

Hanoi (VNA) – COVID-19 cases are projected tosurge during Laos’ traditional new year festival in mid-April, the country’sMinistry of Health warned.

The Omicron variant continues to wreak havoc in the country,putting pressure on the health sector, the Health Ministry said.

The Lao government has ordered to not hold public events celebratingthe new year. People are urged to closely followpreventive measures and receive vaccine jabs.

COVID-19 infections in Laos surged to 2,183 in the past 24hours, with Vientiane capital being the epicentre with 1,132 cases, the Health Ministryannounced on March 29. The country reported daily caseload of more than 1,000on previous days.

Meanwhile, Cambodia has re-instated COVID-19 rapid testingfor workers returning from Thailand, the Ministry of Health stated on March 29,a move to contain the spread of the new SARS-CoV-2 variants as the traditionalnew year festival is nearing.

At present, more than 1,000 Cambodian labourers fromThailand are staying in quarantine in border regions.

The country has scrapped air travel restrictions like RT-PCRtesting before flying to Cambodia, and resumed visa issuance for arrivals asCambodia is stepping up economic recovery.

The Cambodian Health Ministry will work with Thai border localitiesto effectively curb COVID-19 infections.

Workers who have yet to be inoculated will be quarantinedand people testing negative for COVID-19 will receive vaccine shots at the border./.

VNA
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