Laos Locks Down Capital As Covid Cases Hit Record High
Muhammad Irfan Published September 20, 2021 | 12:49 PM
Reclusive Laos has locked down its capital Vientiane and barred travel between Covid-hit provinces, as cases soared to a record high
Bangkok, Sept 20 (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 20th Sep, 2021 ) :Reclusive Laos has locked down its capital Vientiane and barred travel between Covid-hit provinces, as cases soared to a record high.
The communist country appeared to have escaped the brunt of the pandemic in 2020, and by March this year had reported fewer than 60 cases -- though the low number was due in part to limited testing.
But a surge since mid-April has seen its caseload steadily increase, and on Saturday the country reported 467 new cases of community infection, its highest ever single-day tally.
The mayor of Vientiane, where the bulk of the cases were detected, declared a strict lockdown on Sunday for two weeks, ordering residents to stay in their homes unless obtaining food, medicine or making their way to a hospital.
Travel between seven other hard-hit provinces is banned, while entry into Vientiane requires a quarantine of 14 days.
All public gatherings -- even religious ceremonies -- are also banned, as are activities including outdoor exercise and selling street food, according to state-run media KPL.
The surge in cases over the weekend was linked to fresh clusters found in the country's garment factories, with the bulk of workers infected with the highly contagious Delta strain.
Laos has so far recorded a total of 19,399 cases and 16 deaths.
According to the country's health ministry, it has administered more than 4.5 million vaccine doses -- mostly Sinopharm donated from neighbouring China and the Pfizer-BioNTech jab obtained via the Covax programme for low-income countries.
State-run media reported that any violation of Vientiane's lockdown would result in a fine of three million kip ($310) -- a punishing fee in a country where the annual income per capita is about $2,600.
Recent Stories
PM makes two more appointments in his team
Terrorists of Shangla suicide attack will be brought to justice: Interior Minist ..
Applications Open for 6th Cycle of Start-up Incubation under the National Expans ..
Join vivo's "Light it Up" Social Media Contest in Ramadan to Win vivo V30 5G
Pakistan v New Zealand T20I series: Tickets to go on sale from today
Currency Rate In Pakistan - Dollar, Euro, Pound, Riyal Rates On 29 March 2024
Today Gold Rate in Pakistan 29 March 2024
Journalists call for global action to end Gaza’s humanitarian crisis
CM for generating opportunities to bring direct int'l investment
Pakistan retains position in FTSE secondary emerging market
High Commissioner of Malaysia hosts Iftar dinner reception
NEPRA announces 2nd quarterly adjustment in power bills with Rs 1.68 cut per uni ..
More Stories From World
-
Calls for 'smartphone free' childhood grow in UK
5 minutes ago -
Russia hits Ukraine energy sector in overnight attack
5 minutes ago -
A-bomb saga 'Oppenheimer' finally opens in Japan
15 minutes ago -
Titian's masterpiece "Flora" breathes vibrancy into Sino-Italian art exchange
25 minutes ago -
Beijing International Film Festival to open mid-April
25 minutes ago -
China's overnight Shibor interbank rate decreases Friday
35 minutes ago
-
Tokyo stocks end higher tracking Wall Street gains
44 minutes ago -
Boao forum urges global cooperation in energy transition
44 minutes ago -
China to export homegrown tunnel-boring machine to Italy
44 minutes ago -
Over 9 pct of Mongolia's livestock die in cold winter
45 minutes ago -
ChiNext Index closes higher Friday
45 minutes ago -
Ukraine says downed 84 of 99 Russian missiles, drones launched overnight
55 minutes ago