21 more infections raise Covid total to 1,822

The National Taskforce for Covid-19 Prevention and Control on Monday has urged authorities and the general public to keep the virus in check by staying at home and complying with other guidelines to avoid infection.
The ongoing outbreak of the virus in Laos which began in April has been attributed to the UK variant, which has resulted in many asymptomatic cases, causing people who are unaware of their infection to spread the virus to colleagues and family members.

Leading a press briefing on behalf of the taskforce on Monday, Deputy Director General of the Department of Communicable Diseases Control of the Ministry of Health, Dr Latsamy Vongkhamsao, announced 21 new infections.
This brings the total number of Covid in Laos since March last year to 1,822. The positive test results were obtained after 1,126 samples were tested on May 23.
Nine new cases were reported in Vientiane, while Champassak recorded 10, Savannakhet one, and Oudomxay one.
The nine people who contracted the virus in Vientiane are believed to have picked up the infection locally, while the new infections reported in Champassak and Savannakhet provinces were found among Lao nationals returning from other countries.
The new cases in Vientiane occurred among people at Sivilay Market and Haykham Market in Xaysettha district, and at Anna Company in Saphanthong village, Sisattanak district.
Patthana Mining and a house in Houaxiang village, Xaythany district were also named as places where the virus has been detected, as well as a house in Chansavang village, Sikhottabong district.
Countries in the region have detected the Indian variant of Covid-19, as well as the South African variant, which are transmitted faster than the UK variant which is now present in Laos.
Meanwhile, 1,133 people have recovered from the virus and been discharged from hospitals.
Those who have tested positive for the virus have been admitted to Mitthaphab and other hospitals in Vientiane and in Savannakhet, Champassak and Luang Prabang provinces. They will be discharged when they twice test negative for Covid-19.
Two deaths from the virus have been reported.

By Phetphoxay Sengpaseuth
(Latest Update May 25, 2021)