Laos, Thailand report big rises in new COVID-19 infections

Vientiane (VNA) - The Lao National Steering Committee for COVID-19 Prevention and Control on April 25 announced that the country confirmed 76 new locally-infected COVID-19 cases, including 64 cases in Vientiane capital city, lifting the national tally to 323.
So far, 16 out of 18 Lao provinces and cities have
applied lockdown and curfew measures.
Vientiane is now said
to be the hotspot in the second wave of COVID-19 outbreaks in the country.
A representative of
the steering committee said at a press conference that all areas in Vientiane
are at risk of infection.
People in the capital city were demanded to stay at home and only leave their
houses in urgent cases, at the same time strictly follow disease prevention
regulations.
The Lao Ministry of Health also encouraged people to continue to get COVID-19
vaccinations. It opened an online vaccination registration system for local people
and foreigners living in Laos.
Vientiane’s steering committee for COVID-19 prevention and control on
the same day said that the city was ready in all aspects, both in terms of
manpower, quarantine facilities, hospitals and equipment, to cope with the
pandemic.
Laos has so far reported no deaths related to COVID-19.
Meanwhile, 11 deaths were confirmed in Thailand over the last 24 hours, raising
the toll to 140, according to the
Centre for COVID-19 Situation Administration (CCSA).
CCSA said the country reported a total of 55,460 COVID-19 cases since the
pandemic began, including 2,438 infections over the past 24 hours.
To prevent the pandemic from spreading, the Bangkok authorities ordered
the closure of parks, gymnasiums, movie theaters and kindergartens from April
26 to May 9. Shopping centres remain open, but the Thai
Retailers Association has limited opening hours in Bangkok and 17 other
provinces./.