Preschool And Kindergarten Ordered To Close
Source: Vientiane Times
Prime Minister Thongloun Sisoulith has ordered the temporary closure of preschools and kindergartens across the country in the wake of the ongoing outbreak of coronavirus in many countries.
The closure, which will take effect today, was ordered despite there being no confirmed case in Laos as of yesterday.
Speaking to local media yesterday during his working visit to Wattay International Airport in Vientiane to inspect frontline coronavirus screening efforts, the PM instructed the National Task Force Committee for Covid-19 Prevention and Control to work with the Ministry of Education and Sports to carry out the closure.
“After the end of (Lao) New Year, talks will be held (to review the situation),” Premier Thongloun told reporters.
The Task Force Committee yesterday issued a proposal letter asking the Ministry of Education and Sports to consider issuing an announcement to impose the closure. The closure is to avoid the risk of virus infections among young children, it said.
The closure will be imposed until the outbreak is under control.
PM Thongloun and members of the Task Force Committee yesterday also visited the first Laos-Thailand Friendship Bridge in Vientiane, Mittaphab Hospital (150 Bed Hospital) and 103 Hospital, which are designated to treat Covid-19 virus patients if infections occur.
The Covid-19 issue will be tabled at the monthly government meeting for March, scheduled to take place tomorrow when further measures are expected to be issued to prevent the virus from spreading into Laos.
In addition, the government has agreed to temporarily close all local checkpoints, also known as traditional checkpoints. But international checkpoints, which have advanced scanning and preventive equipment and medical staff, are still in service.
If you have any flu-like symptoms and have travelled from an outbreak area, please contact health workers upon entry into Laos.
Those who have been to an outbreak area and developed symptoms after entering Laos, please call +856 20 5406 6777. For more information, call the free hotline number 166 at any time.
