Provinces bordering Thailand to step up river border patrols

The river border will be more closely monitored due to the increasing number of Covid-19 infections in Thailand where the new Delta variant is spreading, as it is feared this more infectious strain could cross the border into Laos.
The first cases of the Delta variant, which has a high rate of transmission, were detected in Laos this week.
Concerns over the spread of the virus intensified after a 30-year-old man named Mr Tei from Vientiane’s Sangthong district and a woman entered Laos without informing authorities.
Television, radio and social media have been flooded with announcements asking members of the public to inform authorities if they can locate the pair after they crossed the Lao-Thai border illegally and avoided the mandatory stay in a quarantine centre.
Local authorities have been urged to monitor border crossings and prevent people from entering Laos illegally from Thailand, hoping to stem the spread of Covid-19.
The National Taskforce for Covid-19 Prevention and Control and health authorities are concerned that Lao workers are returning from Thailand and avoiding screening for the virus by entering Laos at unmanned border crossings.
The taskforce has called on local authorities to monitor all land and water border crossings with Thailand.
Deputy Governor from Sangthong district in Vientiane Mr Xayabath Xoummanivong said efforts to prevent people entering the capital from Thailand illegally would be stepped up.
“Officials in many villages that are close to the Thai border, including in Sangthong district, continue to face challenges in this regard,” he said.
“They say they do not have sufficient personnel to monitor all possible border crossings. Most of the people who could be employed to do this are involved in agriculture and have to work in their fields.”
However, soldiers and members of the police force are patrolling border crossings in the hope of preventing migrant workers from entering Laos illegally.
The Mekong River border between Thailand and Laos is easy to cross. Neighbouring provinces are considered at high risk for the spread of Covid-19 and the national taskforce for virus control has instructed local authorities in all provinces bordering Thailand to record information about people entering Laos.
Returning Lao nationals must present a letter from their embassy or consulate granting permission to travel to a border crossing on a particular day, along with a fit-to-travel health certificate.
On Thursday, 23 new cases of Covid-19 were reported in Laos, bringing the total number to 2,144.
Two new cases were recorded in Vientiane, while Vientiane province recorded three locally-transmitted cases after Phonhong district was placed under lockdown earlier this week.
Khammuan recorded four imported cases, while Savannakhet saw seven imported cases and Champassak reported seven imported cases.
Health officials urge anyone who believes they have come into contact with an infected person to self-isolate for 14 days.

By Phetphoxay Sengpaseuth
(Latest Update July 2, 2021)