Laos sees record daily number of COVID-19 infections
The number of new COVID-19 cases in Laos has continued increasing with 1,401 infections reported in 24 hours, raising the tally to 58,798, the country’s Ministry of Health said on November 18.
People wear face masks to avoid COVID-19 infections in Vientiane, Laos. (Photo: VNA)
Vientiane (VNA) – The number of new COVID-19 cases in Laos has continued increasingwith 1,401 infections reported in 24 hours, raising the tally to 58,798, thecountry’s Ministry of Health said on November 18.
This is also thehighest daily number of COVID-19 cases so far in Laos, marking the thirdstraight day with the infections topping 1,000. The new cases on November 18increased 328 from the previous day, including 10 imported ones and the restbeing community transmissions in 17 provinces and cities.
The Lao Ministry ofHealth also announced four more deaths from the coronavirus disease, raisingthe total fatalities to 116.
Facing that fact, theministry is promoting the vaccination programme so as to achieve a vaccine coveragerate necessary for reopening.
In efforts to reopenthe country, the Lao Government is planning to permit fully vaccinated touriststo enter the country under a green zone travel plan.
This plan is set tobegin in January 2022, with the first “green zones” expected to includeVientiane capital, Vang Vieng, and Luang Prabang, which have safety conditionsfor tourists and travel service suppliers.
To be designated as “green”tourism zones, localities must have at least 70 - 80 percent of theirpopulation and 90 - 95 percent of service providers vaccinated againstCOVID-19./.
In order to quickly reopen the country, recover the economy and adapt to the pandemic, after completing the goal of immunising 50 percent of the adult population,the Government of Laos is working to raise this rate to at least 70 percent by the end of this year, Lao Prime Minister Phankham Viphavan has said.
The Lao Health Ministry has allowed COVID-19 patients with mild symptoms to self-isolate and treat at home, as part of efforts to ease overload in medical establishments and reserve beds for serious cases.
Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen has decided to lift all quarantine requirements for fully vaccinated travellers – both Cambodians and foreign nationals – effective from November 15.
The Government of Laos on November 14 announced the re-opening of schools across the country while some other COVID-19 restriction measures continue to be extended nationwide for additional 15 days starting from 0:00 on November 15.
Laos saw its number of daily COVID-19 cases dropping by 159 on November 15 compared to the previous day, while the Philippines began a pilot scheme to resume in-person classes for the first time since the outbreak of the COVID-19 epidemic, with an initial number of 100 schools.
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People wear face masks to avoid COVID-19 infections in Vientiane, Laos. (Photo: VNA) 
