Govt orders urgent action to fight Covid-19 in Savannakhet, Champassak

The government has ordered the urgent deployment of more medical staff to help central Savannakhet and southern Champassak provinces, which have been overwhelmed by the number of Covid-19 patients.
The Prime Minister’s Office recently issued a notice asking for urgent assistance to be provided, following a meeting between Prime Minister Phankham Viphavanh and his deputies.
Savannakhet and Champassak have seen a rapidly increasing number of imported Covid cases in recent weeks after migrant workers flocked home from Thailand. Reports have emerged that treatment facilities in Thailand, which are experiencing a widespread outbreak, have been overwhelmed with Covid-19 patients.
In light of the influx of migrant workers, the government instructed the Ministry of Health to work with provincial authorities and mobilise assistance from nearby provinces to help Savannakhet and Champassak.
Authorities were told to expedite the improvement and expansion of quarantine centres and treatment facilities so that returnees could be adequately accommodated. 
The Ministry of Health was asked to work with the Ministry of Finance and provincial authorities to source sufficient medical equipment for use by frontline officials in their efforts to stem the spread of the virus. The Ministry of Finance was told to prepare and allocate a budget to purchase the necessary equipment to ensure a sufficient supply to the provinces.
The government asked the central and southern provinces to register the number of workers in their provinces and prepare for the return of more migrant workers. Using the data collected, the government said the database would be a useful reference for skill training and job creation for returnees.
In the longer term, the government instructed the Ministry of Labour and Social Welfare to work with local authorities and relevant sectors to provide skill development training and create jobs for people who are out of work.
 Training could enable people to find work with an employer as well as be self-employed.
With regard to people who hope to return to Thailand to work when the pandemic is under control, authorities were told to inform them about Lao and Thai laws and regulations to ensure they return legally and are protected. 

By Souksakhone Vaenkeo  
(Latest Update August 3, 2021)