free_P2

Laos orders ten entry points to shutdown

Ten border checkpoints used to enter and exit Laos have been ordered to shut down temporarily to help curb the spread of Covid-19 with the remaining international checkpoints to monitor all arrivals closely.
The ten border crossings instructed to close include six Lao-Vietnamese checkpoints: Panghok international checkpoint in Phongsaly province, Nam Soy checkpoint in Huaphanh, Namkan checkpoint in Xieng Khuang, Phoukeua checkpoint in Attapeu, Daktaok border crossing in Sekong, and Nam Phao checkpoint in Bolikhamxay province.

Those on the Lao-Thai border consist of Namheuang and Nam Ngeun checkpoints in Xayabouly province, and Na Pao checkpoint in Khammuan, as well as  Savannakhet International Airport. 
Director General of the Department of Communicable Disease Control, under the Ministry of Health, Dr Rattanaxay Phetsouvanh, informed a press conference last week about the closure of the border checkpoints and warned the public to refrain from non-essential cross-border travel such as shopping trips. Authorities said Lao people should rely on official information outlets to stay informed about the evolving situation while the threat of the virus persists.
At present, health officials have admitted that it was a challenge to prevent people infected with the virus from entering the country given that carriers may have no symptoms during the first one to two weeks of infection.
In light of the spread of the virus, would-be travellers to outbreak countries or even to parts of the world with few or no cases should carefully consider their plans.
Everyone is instructed to wash their hands with soap and water, especially after touching surfaces or coming into contact with someone who has been coughing.
The ministry is also advising the general public to protect themselves against the virus by limiting contact with people suffering from acute respiratory infections.
Officials are strengthening preparedness for and response to Covid-19. Laos has a well-established system to identify unusual clusters of disease or illness, and this is being enhanced to ensure it is capable of detecting anything unusual. Even though no case of the coronavirus has been reported in Laos, the government urges everyone to be on their guard and take precautions such as distancing themselves from people with coughs.
If you have any flu-like symptoms and have travelled to an outbreak area, please contact health workers upon entry into Laos.
If you have been to an outbreak area and develop symptoms after entering Laos, please call +856 20 5406 6777.  For more information, call the free hotline number 166 at any time.

Source: http://www.vientianetimes.org.la/freeContent/FreeConten_Laos_orders_53.php