Savannakhet authorities monitor safe repatriation of returnees

Savannakhet authorities have directed district officials to inspect efforts to facilitate the practical quarantining and safe return home of local workers from neighbouring countries.
Most of the workers have entered from Thailand via border checkpoints after their employers temporarily ceased operations because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The details were discussed during a meeting last week attended by Savannakhet Governor, Mr Santiphab Phomvihane, along with senior officials from provincial health and education and sports departments.
Chief​ of​ the Task Force Committee for COVID-19 Prevention and Control​ in Songkhone district,​ Mr Phouvong Phommathet, reported that he visited local quarantine facilities on Wednesday to check on officials in enabling the safe return of Lao labourers. The programme includes health checks for workers in their hometowns where village officials are supervising 14-days of quarantine to ensure they are not infected.
He said district authorities also needed to mobilise more volunteers to help the returnees crossing the second Lao-Thai Friendship Bridge and prevent the spread of COVID-19.
Savannakhet province recently activated two more quarantine facilities to cope with the influx of returning workers from neighbouring Thailand.
The National Taskforce Committee for COVID-19 Prevention and Control has advised anyone in self-quarantine at home not to go out for nonessential activities and avoid coming in contact with or getting close to other people.
Family members or employers are required to facilitate their daily needs, including food while being quarantined. The quarantined people need to monitor their condition daily, including any flu-like symptoms, coughing and breathing difficulty, while taking good care of their health and always washing hands.
Workers under the 14-day self-monitoring at home can go out for essential activities but are required to wear a mask. Anyone who develops flu-like symptoms can contact the taskforce committee.

By Phetphoxay Sengpaseuth
(Latest Update June 2, 2020)