Xekong orders lockdown until August 20

Authorities in southern Xekong province have ordered lockdowns until August 20 after locally-transmitted Covid-19 infections were reported, and have stepped up controls in areas considered to be at high risk of spreading the virus.
Provincial authorities have increased the number of checkpoints on roads that lead to other provinces, while gatherings of all kinds have been banned, according to a provincial official.

Authorities have also ordered many services to close, while entry to and exit from red zone areas is banned.
In Lamam district, people may no longer enter or leave the provincial capital between the hours of 9pm and 5am, unless permission has been given from the district’s Covid-19 taskforce.
Travel between Lamam and other districts and provinces is banned, except for people who work in the main town and have been given permission to travel by provincial authorities.
Passenger transport services from other provinces to Lamam district have also been suspended. The transport of goods is allowed but those involved must follow the rules laid down by the provincial Covid-19 taskforce to prevent the spread of the virus.
In addition, barber shops, beauty salons, internet cafés, snooker clubs, sports facilities, tourist attractions, spas and football clubs have been closed and deliveries within the city are banned. Restaurants and cafes can remain open but can only offer takeaway services.
In Savannakhet province, Kaysone Phomvihane city is under lockdown until August 23.
Provincial authorities have classified Nonsavanth village and the SOS school as red zones and other villages as yellow zones, with entry to and exit from red zone areas temporarily banned.
In Champassak province, Khong district authorities have ordered a lockdown in Na, Xiengdee, Hangkhone and Donsahong villages until August 22, and Pakxe city is under lockdown until August 20 after locally-transmitted Covid infections were reported.
Champassak province has not recorded any locally-transmitted Covid-19 cases over the past few days, while Savannakhet is still seeing cases despite a lockdown in some parts of the province. On Monday, 349 new infections were reported across the country, raising the total to date to 10,441.
Vientiane recorded 104 new imported cases, while Luang Prabang province recorded one locally-transmitted case and one imported case.
Khammuan province recorded 63 imported cases and Saravan recorded 31 new imported cases.
Xayaboury recorded five imported cases, while Tonpheung district in Bokeo province recorded 27 locally-transmitted cases. Savannakhet recorded 53 imported cases and eight locally-transmitted cases, Champassak recorded 55 imported cases, and Xekong recorded one locally-transmitted case, the National Taskforce for Covid-19 Prevention and Control announced on August 16.

By Times Reporters
(Latest Update August 17, 2021)