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. As of 3 August 2020, all cases have recovered.
COVID-19 pandemic in Laos | |
---|---|
Disease | COVID-19 |
Virus strain | SARS-CoV-2 |
Location | Laos |
Index case | Vientiane |
Arrival date | 24 March 2020 (4 months, 3 weeks and 2 days) |
Confirmed cases | 22 |
Suspected cases‡ | 318 |
Recovered | 19 |
Deaths | 0 |
‡Suspected cases have not been confirmed as being due to this strain by laboratory tests, although some other strains may have been ruled out. |
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.[1][2]
The case fatality ratio for COVID-19 has been much lower than SARS of 2003,[3][4] but the transmission has been significantly greater, with a significant total death toll.[5][3]
Timeline
On 13 March, provincial authorities closed some of border posts.[6]
On 24 March, Laos confirmed its first two COVID-19 cases, becoming the last Southeast Asian country infected with coronavirus.[7][8]
On 26 March, the Vientiane Times confirmed the country's third COVID-19 case.[9]
On 27 March, there were six cases confirmed. Two more men from Luang Prabang, and one from Vientiane.[10]
On 28 March, there were 2 more confirmed, bringing a total to 8.[11]
On 30 March, there was 1 more confirmed, bringing everything to a total of 9.[12]
On 1 April, one more case was confirmed, bringing a total to 10.[13]
On 5 April, 2020, the 11th case was reported as a 55-year-old man from Papua New Guinea.[14]
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.[15] By May 18, more restrictions had been loosened, allowing domestic travel, without foreign travellers allowed.[16]
On 2 June, students returned to classrooms.[17]
On 4 June, the government allowed foreign travellers into the country.[18]
On 25 July, one new case was confirmed. It was a South Korean national.[19]
Confirmed Cases
Case | Date | Age | Gender | Nationality | Location | Treatment facility | Previous country been to | Status | Note | Source | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 24 March 2020 | 28 | Male | ![]() |
Vientiane | ![]() |
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 | ![]() |
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 | ![]() |
Vientiane | ![]() |
In patient | Mining company employee | |||
12 | 6 April 2020 | 20 | Female | ![]() |
Vientiane | ![]() |
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 | ![]() |
||||||
15 | 8 April 2020 | 20 | Female | Vientiane | ![]() |
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 | ![]() |
Vientiane | ![]() |
Statistics
Province | Confirmed | Deaths | Recovered |
---|---|---|---|
Vientiane Prefecture | 19 | 0 | 16 |
Luang Prabang | 3 | 0 | 3 |
Attapeu | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Bokeo | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Bolikhamsai | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Champasak | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Houaphanh | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Khammouane | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Luang Namtha | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Oudomxay | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Phongsaly | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Sainyabuli | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Salavan | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Savannakhet | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Sekong | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Vientiane Province | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Xiengkhouang | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Xaisomboun Province | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Assistance
The Laotian Times says China sent medical experts, medical equipment and medicines, to help Laos fight COVID-19.[20]
On 27 March, Vietnam offers help by sending medical equipment worth US$100,000.[21]
Censorship
Some people have been arrested for allegedly spreading false information about the COVID-19 pandemic.[22]
References
- Elsevier. "Novel Coronavirus Information Center". Elsevier Connect. Archived from the original on 30 January 2020. Retrieved 15 March 2020.
- 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.
- "Crunching the numbers for coronavirus". Imperial News. Archived from the original on 19 March 2020. Retrieved 15 March 2020.
- "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.
- "World Federation Of Societies of Anaesthesiologists – Coronavirus". www.wfsahq.org. Archived from the original on 12 March 2020. Retrieved 15 March 2020.
- "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.
- "Laos records first two coronavirus cases - Thai Media". 24 March 2020. Archived from the original on 24 March 2020. Retrieved 24 March 2020.
- "Laos Confirms First Covid-19 Cases". 24 March 2020. Archived from the original on 24 March 2020. Retrieved 24 March 2020.
- "Laos confirms third Covid-19 case". 26 March 2020. Archived from the original on 26 March 2020. Retrieved 26 March 2020.
- "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.
- "2 more COVID-19 cases confirmed in Laos - China.org.cn". www.china.org.cn. Archived from the original on 30 March 2020. Retrieved 22 June 2020.
- "Laos detects 9th COVID-19 case - China.org.cn". www.china.org.cn. Archived from the original on 23 June 2020. Retrieved 22 June 2020.
- "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.
- "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.
- "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 17 June 2020. Retrieved 22 June 2020.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
- "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.
- "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.
- Weekly, Ttr. "Laos updates entry and exit rules | TTR Weekly". Archived from the original on 22 June 2020. Retrieved 22 June 2020.
- "Vietnam, Laos report new COVID-19 cases after 3 months". Archived from the original on 29 July 2020.
- "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.
- "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.
- "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.
External links
- CoronaTracker – Statistics on the coronavirus cases in Laos
- Coronavirus COVID-19 Global Cases and historical data by Johns Hopkins University