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 confirmed case of the virus. As of 05 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
Map of provinces with confirmed coronavirus cases as of 26 October 2023:
  Confirmed 1–9
  Confirmed 10–99
  Confirmed 100-999
  Confirmed 1,000-9,999
  Confirmed ≥ 10,000
DiseaseCOVID-19
Virus strainSARS-CoV-2
LocationLaos
First outbreakWuhan, China
Index caseVientiane
Arrival date24 March 2020
(3 years, 7 months and 2 days)
Confirmed cases218,885[1]
Recovered217,811 (updated 23 July 2023) [2]
Deaths
671[1]
Fatality rate0.31%
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

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.[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

March

On 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

On 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

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

June

On 2 June, students returned to classrooms.[19]

On 4 June, the government allowed foreign travellers into the country.[20]

July to December

On 25 July, one new case was confirmed. It was a South Korean national.[21]

2,621 people were isolated over concerns.[22]

March

A second wave of vaccinations occurred.[23]

May

On 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
COVID-19 pandemic in Laos (per WHO)
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

Confirmed deaths per day

Confirmed cases March - July 2020

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

Assistance
A girl receives a Pfizer pediatric vaccine donated by the United States

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

Some people have been arrested for allegedly spreading false information about the COVID-19 pandemic.[29]

References
  1. Ritchie, Hannah; Mathieu, Edouard; Rodés-Guirao, Lucas; Appel, Cameron; Giattino, Charlie; Ortiz-Ospina, Esteban; Hasell, Joe; Macdonald, Bobbie; Beltekian, Diana; Dattani, Saloni; Roser, Max (2020–2022). "Coronavirus Pandemic (COVID-19)". Our World in Data. Retrieved 26 October 2023.
  2. "COVID - Coronavirus Statistics - Worldometer".
  3. Elsevier. "Novel Coronavirus Information Center". Elsevier Connect. Archived from the original on 30 January 2020. Retrieved 15 March 2020.
  4. 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.
  5. "Crunching the numbers for coronavirus". Imperial News. 13 March 2020. Archived from the original on 19 March 2020. Retrieved 15 March 2020.
  6. "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.
  7. "World Federation Of Societies of Anaesthesiologists – Coronavirus". www.wfsahq.org. Archived from the original on 12 March 2020. Retrieved 15 March 2020.
  8. "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.
  9. "Laos records first two coronavirus cases - Thai Media". 24 March 2020. Archived from the original on 24 March 2020. Retrieved 24 March 2020.
  10. "Laos Confirms First Covid-19 Cases". 24 March 2020. Archived from the original on 24 March 2020. Retrieved 24 March 2020.
  11. "Laos confirms third Covid-19 case". 26 March 2020. Archived from the original on 26 March 2020. Retrieved 26 March 2020.
  12. "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.
  13. "2 more COVID-19 cases confirmed in Laos". Xinhua. 28 March 2020. Archived from the original on 28 January 2021. Retrieved 22 January 2021.
  14. "New Covid-19 Case Confirmed in Laos: Total Now 9". ASEAN News. 1 April 2020. Retrieved 22 January 2021.
  15. "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.
  16. "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.
  17. "Laos goes into total lockdown | TTR Weekly". 31 March 2020. Archived from the original on 17 June 2020. Retrieved 22 June 2020.
  18. 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.
  19. "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.
  20. 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.
  21. "Vietnam, Laos report new COVID-19 cases after 3 months". Archived from the original on 29 July 2020.
  22. "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.
  23. "Laos to begin second round of Covid-19 vaccinations this month | The Star". www.thestar.com.my. Retrieved 8 March 2021.
  24. The first COVID-19 death in Laos was a Vietnamese VTV
  25. "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.
  26. "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.
  27. Vietnam supports Laos 500,000USD to fight COVID-19
  28. "Thứ trưởng Y tế Nguyễn Trường Sơn chi viện Lào chống Covid-19". vnexpress.net.
  29. "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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