COVID-19 pandemic in Laos

The COVID-19 pandemic in Laos is part of the worldwide pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). On 24 March 2020, Laos became the last country in Southeast Asia to report its first confirmed case of the virus.

COVID-19 pandemic in Laos
Map of provinces with confirmed coronavirus cases (as of 5 December):
  Confirmed 1–9
  Confirmed 10–99
DiseaseCOVID-19
Virus strainSARS-CoV-2
LocationLaos
Index caseVientiane
Arrival date24 March 2020
(10 months, 2 weeks and 1 day)
Confirmed cases44[1]
Recovered41
Deaths
0

Background

On 12 January 2020, the World Health Organization (WHO) confirmed that a novel coronavirus was the cause of a respiratory illness in a cluster of people in Wuhan City, Hubei Province, China, which was reported to the WHO on 31 December 2019.[2][3]

The case fatality ratio for COVID-19 has been much lower than SARS of 2003,[4][5] but the transmission has been significantly greater, with a significant total death toll.[6][4]

Timeline

March 2020

On 13 March, provincial authorities closed some of border posts.[7]

On 24 March, Laos confirmed its first two COVID-19 cases, becoming the last Southeast Asian country infected with coronavirus.[8][9]

On 26 March, the Vientiane Times confirmed the country's third COVID-19 case.[10]

On 27 March, there were six cases confirmed. Two more men from Luang Prabang, and one from Vientiane.[11]

On 28 March, there were 2 more confirmed, bringing a total to 8.[12]

On 30 March, there was 1 more confirmed, bringing everything to a total of 9.[13]

April 2020

On 1 April, one more case was confirmed, bringing a total to 10.[14]

On 5 April 2020, the 11th case was reported as a 55-year-old man from Papua New Guinea.[15]

The government announced a lockdown on 29, March, starting on 30 March. All land borders closed and the last flights departed from Luang Prabang and Vientiane occurred on 1 April.[16]

May 2020

By May 18, more restrictions had been loosened, allowing domestic travel, without foreign travellers allowed.[17]

June 2020

On 2 June, students returned to classrooms.[18]

On 4 June, the government allowed foreign travellers into the country.[19]

July 2020

On 25 July, one new case was confirmed. It was a South Korean national.[20]

October 2020

2,621 people were isolated over concerns.[21]

Confirmed Cases
Details of the confirmed cases in Laos
Case Date Age Gen⁠der National⁠ity Location Treatment facility Previous country been to Status Note Source
1 24 March 2020 28 Male  Laos Vientiane  Thailand Discharged
2 24 March 2020 36 Female Vientiane No Tour guide
3 25 March 2020 26 Male Vientiane Europe Close contact with case 1
4 26 March 2020 42 Male Luang Prabang No Driver of same tour group as case 2.
5 26 March 2020 42 Male Luang Prabang No
6 26 March 2020 41 Male Vientiane No In patient Close contact with case 3
7 28 March 2020 50 Female Luang Prabang No In patient Wife of case 5
8 28 March 2020 18 Male Vientiane No In patient Close contact with case 3
9 29 March 2020 22 Female Vientiane  Thailand In patient Visited her relative in Bangkok
10 25 March 2020 21 Female Vientiane No In patient Close contact with case 8
11 5 April 2020 55 Male  Papua New Guinea Vientiane  Papua New Guinea In patient Mining company employee
12 6 April 2020 20 Female  Laos Vientiane  United Kingdom In patient Been on the same flight as case 11 from Bangkok to Vientiane
13 7 April 2020 40 Male Vientiane No Close contact with case 11
14 7 April 2020 19 Female Vientiane  United Kingdom
15 8 April 2020 20 Female Vientiane  United Kingdom Close contact with case 12. Been on the same flight with cases 11 and 12.
16 10 April 2020 23 Female Vientiane No Close contact with case 10.
17 11 April 2020 32 Female Vientiane No In patient Close contact with case 16.
18 11 April 2020 32 Female Vientiane No In patient
19 12 April 2020 21 Male Vientiane No In patient
20 27 July 2020 32 Male  South Korea Vientiane  Japan

Statistics
COVD-19 pandemic in Laos (per WHO)
Province Confirmed Recovered
Vientiane Prefecture 37 37
Luang Prabang 3 3
Xaisomboun 1 1

Assistance

The Laotian Times says China sent medical experts, medical equipment and medicines, to help Laos fight COVID-19.[22]

On 27 March, Vietnam offers help by sending medical equipment worth US$100,000.[23]

Censorship

Some people have been arrested for allegedly spreading false information about the COVID-19 pandemic.[24]

References
  1. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 16 April 2020. Retrieved 30 December 2020.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  2. Elsevier. "Novel Coronavirus Information Center". Elsevier Connect. Archived from the original on 30 January 2020. Retrieved 15 March 2020.
  3. Reynolds, Matt (4 March 2020). "What is coronavirus and how close is it to becoming a pandemic?". Wired UK. ISSN 1357-0978. Archived from the original on 5 March 2020. Retrieved 5 March 2020.
  4. "Crunching the numbers for coronavirus". Imperial News. Archived from the original on 19 March 2020. Retrieved 15 March 2020.
  5. "High consequence infectious diseases (HCID); Guidance and information about high consequence infectious diseases and their management in England". GOV.UK. Archived from the original on 3 March 2020. Retrieved 17 March 2020.
  6. "World Federation Of Societies of Anaesthesiologists – Coronavirus". www.wfsahq.org. Archived from the original on 12 March 2020. Retrieved 15 March 2020.
  7. "Laos Shutters Small Checkpoints on Borders With Vietnam, Cambodia, Citing Coronavirus Spread". Radio Free Asia. 16 March 2020. Archived from the original on 7 April 2020. Retrieved 7 April 2020.
  8. "Laos records first two coronavirus cases - Thai Media". 24 March 2020. Archived from the original on 24 March 2020. Retrieved 24 March 2020.
  9. "Laos Confirms First Covid-19 Cases". 24 March 2020. Archived from the original on 24 March 2020. Retrieved 24 March 2020.
  10. "Laos confirms third Covid-19 case". 26 March 2020. Archived from the original on 26 March 2020. Retrieved 26 March 2020.
  11. "Three More Covid-19 Cases Confirmed in Laos, Total Now at 6". 27 March 2020. Archived from the original on 26 March 2020. Retrieved 27 March 2020.
  12. "2 more COVID-19 cases confirmed in Laos". Xinhua. 28 March 2020. Retrieved 22 January 2021.
  13. "New Covid-19 Case Confirmed in Laos: Total Now 9". ASEAN News. 1 April 2020. Retrieved 22 January 2021.
  14. "Laos confirms one more COVID-19 case - Xinhua | English.news.cn". www.xinhuanet.com. Archived from the original on 4 April 2020. Retrieved 22 June 2020.
  15. "Covid-19 cases in Laos rise to 11 | The Star". www.thestar.com.my. Archived from the original on 16 June 2020. Retrieved 22 June 2020.
  16. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 17 June 2020. Retrieved 22 June 2020.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  17. "With 19 Confirmed COVID-19 Cases And No Deaths, Laos To Loosen Lockdown". NPR.org. Archived from the original on 23 June 2020. Retrieved 22 June 2020.
  18. "Lao students return to schools as gov't further eases COVID-19 restrictions - Xinhua | English.news.cn". www.xinhuanet.com. Archived from the original on 24 June 2020. Retrieved 22 June 2020.
  19. Weekly, Ttr. "Laos updates entry and exit rules | TTR Weekly". Archived from the original on 22 June 2020. Retrieved 22 June 2020.
  20. "Vietnam, Laos report new COVID-19 cases after 3 months". Archived from the original on 29 July 2020.
  21. "2,621 people isolated in Laos amid COVID-19 concerns - Xinhua | English.news.cn". www.xinhuanet.com. Archived from the original on 10 January 2021. Retrieved 18 October 2020.
  22. "China Sends Medical Experts to Help Laos Fight COVID-19". 26 March 2020. Archived from the original on 26 March 2020. Retrieved 26 March 2020.
  23. "Vietnam to provide Laos and Cambodia with medical equipment worth $100,000 each". 27 March 2020. Archived from the original on 13 April 2020. Retrieved 31 March 2020.
  24. "Vietnam, Laos Arrest Facebookers on COVID-19-Related Charges". Radio Free Asia. 13 April 2020. Archived from the original on 31 May 2020. Retrieved 16 May 2020.
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