Covid taskforce announces 17 new cases

The National Taskforce for Covid-19 Prevention and Control on Tuesday warned the public of the continuing high risk of virus transmission among work colleagues and family members.
The taskforce urged everyone to follow the lockdown rules with regard to travel restrictions, unofficial gatherings, parties and celebrations, as these may cause people who are unaware that they are carrying the virus to pass it on to others.
Many people with the virus have no symptoms and do not feel unwell, which is one of the reasons for its rapid spread.
Leading a press briefing on behalf of the taskforce on Tuesday, Deputy Director General of the Department of Communicable Diseases Control of the Ministry of Health, Dr Sisavath Soutthanalaxay, announced 17 new infections.
This brings the total number of Covid cases in Laos since March last year to 1,929. The positive test results were obtained after 2,216   samples were tested on May 31.
Twelve of the new cases were reported in Vientiane, three in Champassak and two in Savannakhet.
The 12 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 were found among Lao nationals returning from other countries.
Countries in the region have detected the Indian variant of Covid-19 as well as the South African variant, which are transmitted more quickly than the UK variant currently circulating in Laos.
So far, 1,599 people have recovered from the virus and been discharged from hospitals, while 310 others remain in 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.
Three deaths from the virus have been reported.
Covid hotspots in Vientiane include the Ministry of Justice, the National University of Laos, Dongdok Market, Tanmixay Market, and the Dongdok branch of Pizza Company.
Dr Sisavath urged everyone to act responsibly and to continue to comply with all of the Covid-19 prevention measures and lockdown rules.
Health officials instruct people who believe they have come into contact with an infected person to self-isolate for 14 days.
The taskforce said new strains of Covid-19 can affect everyone, including young children.
Because of this, everyone should stay at home as much as possible and follow the virus prevention measures laid down by the Covid taskforce, such as wearing face masks, regularly using hand sanitiser, and sticking to the rules on social distancing.

By Phetphoxay Sengpaseuth
(Latest Update June 2, 2021)