Covid Cases In Vientiane Hit Daily High, Nationwide Total Exceeds 20,000

Source: Vientiane Times

The number of new Covid-19 cases reported nationwide on Thursday reached 694, with Vientiane registering a record high of 563 locally-transmitted cases.

The new record in the capital came after an outbreak that originated at a garment factory in Nongtha Neua village, Chanthabouly district, spread beyond the factory. 

The new cases reported nationwide included 28 imported cases and were identified out of 5,652 Covid tests carried out in the previous 24 hours.

This brings the total number of cases to date to 20,646, the Director General of the Department of Communicable Diseases Control of the Ministry of Health, Dr Lattanaxay Phetsouvanh, told the daily news briefing on Thursday.

The new record of locally-transmitted cases in Vientiane was largely the result of outbreaks in garment factories which accounted for almost 90 percent of the cases in the capital, the director-general added.

As many as 371 employees at the Trio garment factory tested positive for Covid, while another 42 tested positive at the Venture factory.

The other cases were among individuals who provided samples at various test centres.

Dr Lattanaxay named nine companies, factories and markets as ‘risk zones’, meaning that people with the virus have spent time in these places. They are:
– Alpilao factory in Nongtha Neua village, Chanthabouly district.
– Trio factory in Sikeuth village, Naxaithong district.
– Venture factory in Sivilay village, Xaythany district.
– Tha-ngone market.
– Crystal drinking water factory.
– D Mart KM 7.
– Meuangvang company
– DK company.
– Krungsri leasing company.

In addition, Nonkeo village in Xaythany district and Nonsavang village in Sisattanak district were newly added into the list of red-zone villages.

Locally-transmitted cases in the provinces included 46 in Champassak, 26 in Khammuan, 10 in Savannakhet, five each in Borikhamxay, Luang Namtha and Luang Prabang, four in Vientiane province, two in Xieng Khuang, and one in Saravan.

Of the 28 imported cases, 13 were reported in Saravan province, five in the capital Vientiane, four in Champassak province, and one in Khammuan province.

Dr Lattanaxay said Vientiane residents wishing to get tested for Covid-19 can do so at the following locations:
– Beungkhayong indoor stadium (Sisattanak district)
– Lao-Viet Secondary School (Xaysettha district)
– Anouvong Secondary School
– Mobile test units at factories
– Naxaithong district hospital
– Tanmixay Secondary School (Xaythany district)
– Major hospitals

People in the provinces can go to a provincial hospital or designated centre to get tested.

So far, 16 people have died from the virus and 4,861 people are currently under observation or receiving treatment in hospitals.