Covid-19 Cases In Laos Surpass 200,000 But Infections Are On A Downward Trend Despite Festive Season
Source: The Star
The total number of Covid-19 cases in Laos rose to 207,196 on Friday night (April 29) after 315 new cases were reported in the past 24 hours, according to the Ministry of Health.
According to a report by the Centre of Information and Education for Health under the ministry, the country recorded 315 new cases of Covid-19 in the past 24 hours, including 306 community cases.
The Lao capital Vientiane logged the highest number of infections with 192, according to the report.
Laos recorded three more deaths on Friday, bringing the death toll to 743.
Daily Covid infections in Laos have not seen a major increase following the Lao New Year holiday, according to health officials.
The National Taskforce for Covid-19 Prevention and Control reported in an announcement yesterday that the Covid-19 situation had not been dramatically affected by new year celebrations.
Dr. Phonepaseuth Xayamoungkhoun, Deputy Director of the Department of Communicable Disease Control, noted that daily infection rates had dropped in neighboring countries as well as Laos, with many countries easing Covid-19 restrictions and measures in light of downward trends.
Since Lao New Year, daily cases of Covid-19 in Laos have dropped to less than 500 cases per day across the country, with a low number of deaths.
Dr. Phonepaseuth said that residents had built up immunity against the Coronavirus and its variants through vaccination efforts as well as natural immunity among those who had been infected with the virus and recovered.
Meanwhile, first dose vaccinations have now reached 78.53% of the eligible population, with second dose vaccinations reaching 64.41%.
The Taskforce had previously warned of a potential surge in Covid cases following the Lao New Year celebrations, recommending that residents test themselves for Covid-19 infections with rapid antigen tests or RT-PCR tests.
Luang Prabang City was particularly crowded during the national holiday, with groups of young people pouring into the streets to mark the new year. – Xinhua
