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 confirmed case of the virus. As of 5 June 2022, there were a total of 210,081 cases and 756 deaths. On 4 May 2021, Laos exceeded 1,000 cases of COVID-19. Five days later, the country recorded the first death.
| COVID-19 pandemic in Laos | |
|---|---|
| Disease | COVID-19 |
| Virus strain | SARS-CoV-2 |
| Location | Laos |
| First outbreak | Wuhan, China |
| Index case | Vientiane |
| Arrival date | 24 March 2020 (4 years, 7 months, 1 week and 3 days) |
| Confirmed cases | 219,060[1] |
| Recovered | 217,811 (updated 23 July 2023) [2] |
Deaths | 671[1] |
| Fatality rate | 0.31% |
| Government website | |
| Centre of Information and Education for Health | |
On 21 December 2021, Laos overtook China in terms of the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases.
Background
editOn 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.[3][4]
The case fatality ratio for COVID-19 has been much lower than SARS of 2003,[5][6] but the transmission has been significantly greater, with a significant total death toll.[7][5]
Timeline
edit2020
editMarch
editOn 13 March, provincial authorities closed some of border posts.[8]
On 24 March, Laos confirmed its first two COVID-19 cases, becoming the last Southeast Asian country infected with coronavirus.[9][10]
On 26 March, the Vientiane Times confirmed the country's third COVID-19 case.[11]
On 27 March, there were six cases confirmed. Two more men from Luang Prabang, and one from Vientiane.[12]
On 28 March, there were 2 more confirmed, bringing a total to 8.[13]
On 30 March, there was 1 more confirmed, bringing everything to a total of 9.[14]
April
editOn 1 April, one more case was confirmed, bringing a total to 10.[15]
On 5 April 2020, the 11th case was reported as a 55-year-old man from Papua New Guinea.[16]
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.[17]
May
editBy May 18, more restrictions had been loosened, allowing domestic travel, without foreign travellers allowed.[18]
June
editOn 2 June, students returned to classrooms.[19]
On 4 June, the government allowed foreign travellers into the country.[20]
July to December
editOn 25 July, one new case was confirmed. It was a South Korean national.[21]
2,621 people were isolated over concerns.[22]
2021
editMarch
editA second wave of vaccinations occurred.[23]
May
editOn the morning of 9 May, Laos recorded the first death due to COVID-19. The Embassy of Vietnam in Vientiane confirmed that was a Vietnamese woman died after one week of treatment.[24]
Statistics
edit| Province | Confirmed | Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| Savannakhet | 6,865 | 8 |
| Vientiane | 6,299 | 6 |
| Champasak | 5,076 | 4 |
| Khammouane | 2,503 | 1 |
| Salavan | 1,653 | 1 |
| Bokeo | 1,097 | 0 |
| Luang Prabang | 613 | 0 |
| Vientiane Province | 341 | 1 |
| Bolikhamsai | 138 | 0 |
| Luang Namtha | 103 | 0 |
| Xaisomboun | 82 | 0 |
| Xayaboury | 55 | 0 |
| Oudomxay | 38 | 0 |
| Xiangkhouang | 26 | 0 |
| Attapeu | 12 | 0 |
| Sekong | 8 | 0 |
| Phongsaly | 7 | 0 |
Confirmed new cases per day
Graphs are unavailable due to technical issues. There is more info on Phabricator and on MediaWiki.org. |
Confirmed deaths per day
Graphs are unavailable due to technical issues. There is more info on Phabricator and on MediaWiki.org. |
Confirmed cases March - July 2020
| 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
|
Assistance
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The Laotian Times says China sent medical experts, medical equipment and medicines, to help Laos fight COVID-19.[25]
On 27 March, Vietnam offers help by sending medical equipment worth US$100,000.[26]
In April 2021, the Vietnamese government decided to provide a financial aid of US$500,000 to fight against COVID disease, in addition to sending experts and supporting additional medical equipment for Laos.[27] On 4 May 2021, Vietnam's Deputy Minister of Health Nguyen Truong Son and 32 experts departed for Laos to set up field hospitals, increase emergency resuscitation and strengthen testing capacity.[28]
Censorship
editSome people have been arrested for allegedly spreading false information about the COVID-19 pandemic.[29]
References
edit- ^ a b Mathieu, Edouard; Ritchie, Hannah; Rodés-Guirao, Lucas; Appel, Cameron; Giattino, Charlie; Hasell, Joe; Macdonald, Bobbie; Dattani, Saloni; Beltekian, Diana; Ortiz-Ospina, Esteban; Roser, Max (2020–2024). "Coronavirus Pandemic (COVID-19)". Our World in Data. Retrieved 3 November 2024.
- ^ "COVID - Coronavirus Statistics - Worldometer".
- ^ 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.
- ^ a b "Crunching the numbers for coronavirus". Imperial News. 13 March 2020. 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". Xinhua. 28 March 2020. Archived from the original on 28 January 2021. Retrieved 22 January 2021.
- ^ "New Covid-19 Case Confirmed in Laos: Total Now 9". ASEAN News. 1 April 2020. Retrieved 22 January 2021.
- ^ "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.
- ^ "Laos goes into total lockdown | TTR Weekly". 31 March 2020. Archived from the original on 17 June 2020. Retrieved 22 June 2020.
- ^ Westerman, Ashley (17 May 2020). "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 (3 June 2020). "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.
- ^ "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.
- ^ "Laos to begin second round of Covid-19 vaccinations this month | The Star". www.thestar.com.my. Retrieved 8 March 2021.
- ^ The first COVID-19 death in Laos was a Vietnamese VTV
- ^ "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 supports Laos 500,000USD to fight COVID-19
- ^ "Thứ trưởng Y tế Nguyễn Trường Sơn chi viện Lào chống Covid-19". vnexpress.net.
- ^ "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
edit- CoronaTracker – Statistics on the coronavirus cases in Laos
- Coronavirus COVID-19 Global Cases and historical data by Johns Hopkins University
- Laos Travel Restrictions – Laos Travel Restrictions: How COVID-19 Affects Visitors
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