Taskforce adjusts work scopes to counter growing virus threat 

The National Taskforce Committee for COVID-19 Prevention and Control has amended its roles and duties to be more able to effectively deal with a growing threat from the viral Covid-19 disease, which has spread into Laos.

Mr Somdy Duangdy provides an update on changes to the National Taskforce Committee for COVID-19 Prevention and Control scope of work.

The committee President Mr Somdy Duangdy on Wednesday presided over a meeting seeking to inform the members of the committee of their amended scopes of work so that they would be able to best perform their duties in line with the task force mission and objectives.

The amendment of the committee's scope of work took place on April 6 as COVID 19 infection cases in Laos rose to 14 on Tuesday. 

The authorities believed that this change would help Laos to limit the number of new infection cases.

Additionally, the change would help prepare Laos to be more ready to deal with any unexpected scenario as well as to address the risks of negative impacts of a viral disease outbreak on the Lao economy, social order, and the lives and livelihoods of the Lao people.

According to the amended role and duties of the National Taskforce Committee for COVID-19 Prevention and Control, which Vientiane Times has obtained, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance remains as the committee president.

Under the amended role and duty of the committee, Minister of Health, Associate Professor Dr Bounkong Syhavong remains as the committee's vice president. 

Deputy Minister of Associate Prof Dr Phouthone Muongpak remains a standing member of the committee.

The committee consists of the secretariat team, which is in charge of medical disclosure of COVID 19 related information. 

The secretariat also provides administrative and coordinating support as well as recommendations on how to best deal with the COVID 19 outbreak for the committee to consider and approve.

In addition to this, the committee has an external relations team, which is in charge of mobilising funds to facilitate the return of foreign citizens to their own countries. 

A communication and anti-fake news team have also been established under the amended scope of the work of the committee.

Alongside with the above team, the committee budget and logistics team, teams have been put in charge of the arrangement of venues to quarantine or isolate COVID infected patients, as well as traffic management, and quarantine and self-isolation administration. 

A team in charge of facilitating the import and export of goods has also been added to the committee. 

Also, there are teams charged with the administration of returned students and Lao labourers.

Another team providing essential back up to the committee is the comprehensive support team, which is under the command of armed forces with the duty to assist and support and facilitate the implementation of the work of the committee.

By Ekaphone Phouthonesy
(Latest Update April 08, 2020) [01:25 PM]