Health ministry issues caution over spread of Omicron

Health officials around Laos are strengthening Covid-19 response measures in a bid to prevent the spread of Omicron and ensure that everyone has access to adequate healthcare.
At least 108 countries have detected cases of the highly transmissible strain while more than 33 provinces in Thailand have recorded Omicron cases.
The Ministry of Health is readying government hospitals and health officials to cope with a possible widespread outbreak of the new strain of Covid-19.
Target hospitals in Vientiane and the provinces have set up emergency medical teams and are fully prepared for a worst-case scenario of a viral outbreak, a member of the National Taskforce for Covid-19 Prevention and Control said.
Local authorities are preparing provincial and district hospitals and their staff and amassing the special equipment needed to care for people suspected of having or confirmed to have the Omicron variant. 
A senior official from the Department of Communicable Disease Control under the Ministry of Health, Dr Viengsavanh Khitthiphong, led a workshop on Tuesday in which she advised the media to alert the public to the possible spread of Omicron and advise caution.
Work to strengthen the Covid-19 response is based on the results of a multistakeholder risk assessment and involves epidemic level assessment, the capacity of health officials in relation to treatment and knowledge around the virus outbreak, and the rate of vaccination coverage.
Since the start of the pandemic, Laos has taken the necessary health and social measures to prevent the spread of Covid-19, Dr Viengsavanh said.
Everyone must play a part in protecting communities against the virus, she added.
“Risk assessments are required regularly so that outbreaks or risks can be assessed early and a quick response can be made,” she said. The health ministry is mobilising doctors and nurses from government and private hospitals, as well as medical teams from the Lao army, to join the effort to tackle the virus outbreak.
The ministry advises anyone with flu-like symptoms who has travelled to a virus outbreak area or had any contact with an at-risk group to get in touch with hospital staff. Hospitals will provide free treatment for anyone who contracts the virus.
The media workshop was led by the Director of the National Centre for Laboratory and Epidemiology, Dr Phonepadith Sangxayarath, and Director of the Centre of Information and Education for Health, Mr Visith Khamlusa, and attended by senior ministry officials and media personnel.

By Phetphoxay Sengpaseuth
(Latest Update March 2, 2021)