Laos readies safety measures against coronavirus ahead of regional summits

The government is taking precautions against the coronavirus (Covid-19) by putting in place tougher measures to ensure the safety of regional leaders scheduled to visit Laos for upcoming summits, a senior health official has said.
Laos is scheduled to host four regional summits at the end of March.
Leaders from China, Myanmar, Laos, Thailand, Cambodia, and Vietnam are expected to convene for the 3rd Mekong-Lancang Cooperation Summit.
In addition, leaders from the Ayeyawady-Chao Phraya-Mekong Economic Cooperation Strategy (ACMECS) countries - Laos, Myanmar, Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam - will hold their 9th meeting in the Lao capital.
Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar and Vietnam (CLMV) will hold their 10th summit, while leaders from Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam (CLV) will convene their 11th meeting.

Speaking at a press conference at the Ministry of Health on Wednesday, Deputy Minister Associate Prof. Dr Phouthone Moungpak said a taskforce had been formed to be in charge of prevention and control preparedness.
“We are prepared to host the meetings,” he told the media.
A senior health official associated with the preparations told Vientiane Times on Thursday the taskforce was drawing up a detailed plan for special prevention measures during the summits.
Laos, which has no confirmed case of the virus so far, earlier this month successfully hosted the Special Asean-China Foreign Ministers’ Meeting on measures to control the coronavirus outbreak, and the 5th Mekong-Lancang Cooperation (MLC) Foreign Ministers’ Meeting.
Health authorities have escalated prevention measures in recent days following reports of the rapid spread of the virus outside China, where the virus emerged in December.
Globally, more than 80,000 people in almost 40 countries have been infected with the coronavirus – the vast majority in China. Covid-19, the respiratory disease caused by the virus, has killed more than 2,700 people so far, the BBC reported yesterday.
Lao health authorities have now imposed quarantine measures on visitors from all outbreak countries, rather than just those arriving from China as before, Associate Prof. Dr Phouthone said.
“People travelling from outbreak zones will be isolated and followed up for a period of 14 days,” he said.
The deputy minister referred to the 14-day incubation period of the virus, whose symptoms start with a fever, followed by a dry cough, and shortness of breath a week later.
Visitors travelling from outbreak zones in countries such as the Republic of Korea, Italy, Singapore and Thailand need to comply with similarly strict quarantine regulations as people entering Laos from China. Health authorities have told tour operators to suspend package tours to cities where the outbreak has been reported, notably in South Korea, after the rapid spread of the virus there. The country is a popular destination for Lao nationals.
Associate Prof. Dr Phouthone, who is Deputy Head of the Taskforce Committee in charge of virus prevention and control, said the committee will issue an announcement asking project managers and companies hiring Chinese workers to take the temperature of their employees twice a day - in the morning and evening - and report the readings to health authorities.
“Our team will take samples from anyone showing symptoms for diagnosis,” he said, adding that anyone suspected of carrying the virus will be isolated and monitored at a hospital.
Health authorities will provide diagnostic equipment to provinces that have international ports of entry. This will enable them to determine whether a person tests positive or negative for the virus within 30 minutes to an hour, he added. Luang Namtha, which borders on China, as well as Luang Prabang, Savannakhet and Champassak provinces which have international airports, are expected to be given the diagnostic equipment.

By Souksakhone Vaenkeo
(Latest Update February 28, 2020)