Deputy Minister and Deputy Head of the National Taskforce Committee for Covid-19 Prevention and Control Thipphakone Chanthavongsa hosted a press conference announcing government’s decision to extend preventive and control measures against Covid-19 through Sep 30.
As of Sep 15, 2021, COVID-19 outbreak situation in the Lao PDR has shown an increasing trend and has been likely to approach level 2 with some provinces – Champassak, Khammuan, Savannakhet and Vientiane likely to reach level 3.
“Although imported cases are declining in these localities, community infections are expanding due to inter-locality travel and activities of organizations and individuals,” said the Deputy Head of the Taskforce Committee.
To be implemented between Sep 16 and 30, the Notice No 1177/Prime Minister’s Office urges relevant authorities to attach importance to vaccination of target groups with Covid-19 vaccines and speed up contact tracing.
All border closings continue to be closed except for travel permitted by the National Taskforce Committee for Covid-19 Prevention and Control.
Massage and beauty parlours, night markets, food gardens, and tourist sites in areas with local transmissions of Covid-19 must be closed.
Meetings, gatherings, and activities with more than 20 participants, religious activities, traditional festivals, festive parties, and wedding parties are banned. Necessary meetings and official receptions can be organized with prior permission from central or provincial Taskforce Committees.
Traffic in Vientiane and provinces with locally transmitted cases of Covid-19 is banned between 22:00 and 05:00 hours, except for the transport of goods, food, medical equipment, ambulances, fire trucks, rescue vehicles, and vehicles of Taskforce Committee.
The notice bans teaching and learning activities and suspends entrance examination for vocational and pedagogical education, and tertiary education in Vientiane and provinces with local transmissions of Covid-19.
Boarding schools without recent move-in students and teachers can conduct teaching and learning as long as preventive and control measures against Covid-19 are strictly respected and with permission from related provincial authorities.
The notice urges provinces with spreading transmission of Covid-19 and returning workers to tighten restrictions on travel within the provinces and inter-province travel according to the guidelines of the central government.
Source: Lao News Agency