Remaining virus patients to return home subject to tests

The National Taskforce Committee for COVID-19 Prevention and Control has announced the 10 remaining virus patients in hospital will be permitted to return home if their second test comes back negative.
Under the current treatment regime, recuperating patients who twice test negative for the coronavirus are permitted to go home but must self-isolate for 14 days.

The taskforce revealed its satisfaction with the effectiveness of treatment for patients recovering from the potentially deadly virus with nine of the 19 confirmed infected people already released from hospital.
The 10 remaining patients are currently being cared for at Mittaphab Hospital in Vientiane.
May 7 marked 25 days straight (from April 12) that Laos has not recorded any new coronavirus infections.
Deputy Minister of Health, Dr Phouthone Muongpak, who is also Deputy Head of the National Taskforce Committee for COVID-19 Prevention and Control, told yesterday’s daily media briefing that from now to May 17 the committee is maintaining surveillance and quarantine measures on people entering Laos as well as testing to ensure no new infections occur.
The press conference was also attended by Deputy Minister of Information, Culture and Tourism Mr Savankhone Razmountry.
Dr Phouthone requested all people to keep following the strict measures announced in Prime Ministerial order No. 524, and to continue respecting the rules after May 17. On May 6, 981 people entered Laos from Thailand, including 28 Lao workers through Champassak province, two via Savannakhet province along with truck drivers crossing the 2nd Lao-Thai friendship bridge.
Nine truck drivers entered from China, and 816 truck drivers came from Vietnam. No entries were recorded for Wattay International Airport in Vientiane. Everyone entering via border checkpoints had their temperature checked with none registering a fever.
Some 99 samples were tested on May 6, including 93 Lao workers returning from Thailand and other suspected cases involving residents around the country.
All 99 samples tested negative. From January to May 6, some 2,604 samples have been tested with 19 confirmed cases.
Some 621 people are being housed at 77 quarantine centres with all samples taken testing negative.
According to the Ministry of Health as of May 7, COVID-19 had spread to 212 countries and territories, with 3,753,219 confirmed cases globally (89,208 new infections). The virus has claimed 263,843 lives while more than 1,245,560 people have recovered.

By Sangkhomsay Bubphanouvong
(Latest Update May 8, 2020)