A medical staff takes samples for COVID-19 testing in Bangkok, Thailand (Photo: AFP/VNA) Vientiane (VNA) - The Lao National Steering Committee for COVID-19 Preventionand Control on April 25 announced that the country confirmed 76 newlocally-infected COVID-19 cases, including 64 cases in Vientiane capital city, liftingthe national tally to 323.
So far, 16 out of 18 Lao provinces and cities haveapplied lockdown and curfew measures.
Vientiane is now saidto be the hotspot in the second wave of COVID-19 outbreaks in the country.
A representative ofthe steering committee said at a press conference that all areas in Vientianeare at risk of infection.
People in the capital city were demanded to stay at home and only leave theirhouses in urgent cases, at the same time strictly follow disease preventionregulations.
The Lao Ministry of Health also encouraged people to continue to get COVID-19vaccinations. It opened an online vaccination registration system for local peopleand foreigners living in Laos.
Vientiane’s steering committee for COVID-19 prevention and control onthe same day said that the city was ready in all aspects, both in terms ofmanpower, quarantine facilities, hospitals and equipment, to cope with thepandemic.
Laos has so far reported no deaths related to COVID-19.
Meanwhile, 11 deaths were confirmed in Thailand over the last 24 hours, raisingthe toll to 140, according to theCentre for COVID-19 Situation Administration (CCSA).
CCSA said the country reported a total of 55,460 COVID-19 cases since thepandemic began, including 2,438 infections over the past 24 hours.
To prevent the pandemic from spreading, the Bangkok authorities orderedthe closure of parks, gymnasiums, movie theaters and kindergartens from April26 to May 9. Shopping centres remain open, but the ThaiRetailers Association has limited opening hours in Bangkok and 17 otherprovinces./.
