One Covid-19 patient allowed to go home after recovery, no new cases for 2 days

A patient infected by the Coronavirus was discharged from Mittaphab Hospital in Vientiane on Tuesday after testing negative, even as Laos reported no new Covid-19 cases for the second consecutive day.

Dr Phouthone Muongpak (centre) at the daily news briefing on the Covid-19 situation. Photo Khamphan

“A Covid-19 has left the hospital today (April 14) after testing negative two times in 24 hours,” the Director of Mittaphab Hospital, Dr Sanong Thongsana, told the daily news briefing on the Covid-19 situation. 

“We allowed the patient to go home but self-quarantine measures will have to be observed and contacts with family members will have to be reduced. The patient will have to come for a test again after 14 days,” he said.

The Standing Deputy Head of the National Taskforce Committee for Covid-19 Prevention and Control, Dr Phouthone Muongpak, said Laos had recorded no new Coronavirus infections for two consecutive days.

Between January and April 13, a total of 1,235 people have been tested, and 19 were found to be infected.

Fifteen of the infected people are still being treated at Mittaphab Hospital and another three are in the Luang Prabang provincial hospital. All these people have only mild symptoms.

Dr Phouthone called on all sectors and the people to strictly follow the Prime Minister’s Order No 06, which details prevention and control measures, including the directive to stay at home for three weeks to contain the spread of the virus. 

The Director General of the Department of Communicable Disease Control under the Ministry of Health, Dr Rattanaxay Phetsouvanh, called on everyone not to organise parties for their families or other social gatherings during this year’s Pi Mai Lao or Lao New Year in line with the Prime Minister’s Order and not to travel.

He also called on the people to avoid pouring perfumed water on elderly people during the new year celebrations and to stay vigilant and even not take part in "Song Pha" (pouring perfumed water on Buddha statues) at temples because the Covid-19 virus can survive in water for four days.

The government is tightening measures to prevent the virus from spreading during the Lao New Year holidays – the nation’s biggest festive event.

The Prime Minister’s Office on Monday prohibited the sale of beer and all types of alcoholic drinks during the new year holidays and up until April 20.

This is the first time in recent memory that the sale of alcoholic drinks has been banned during the Lao new year.

The prohibition is an attempt to prevent people gathering for drinking sessions and to limit the spread of the virus.

As of April 14, the Coronavirus has infected more than 1,920,258 people in 210 countries. It has claimed more than 119,413 lives, while more than 443,786 people have been discharged from hospital, according to the taskforce committee.

By Phomphong Laoin
(Latest Update April 14, 2020) [06:39 PM]