| 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 (5 years, 6 months, 3 weeks 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 | |
TheCOVID-19 pandemic in Laos is part of theworldwide pandemic ofcoronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused bysevere acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). On 24 March 2020, Laos became the last country inSoutheast 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.
On 21 December 2021, Laos overtookChina in terms of the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases.
On 12 January 2020, theWorld Health Organization (WHO) confirmed that anovel 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]
Thecase fatality ratio for COVID-19 has been much lower thanSARS of 2003,[5][6] but thetransmission has been significantly greater, with a significant total death toll.[7][5]
On 13 March, provincial authorities closed some of border posts.[8]
On 24 March, Laos confirmed its first twoCOVID-19 cases, becoming the lastSoutheast Asian country infected with coronavirus.[9][10]
On 26 March, theVientiane Times confirmed the country's third COVID-19 case.[11]
On 27 March, there were six cases confirmed. Two more men fromLuang Prabang, and one fromVientiane.[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]
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 fromPapua 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]
By May 18, more restrictions had been loosened, allowing domestic travel, without foreign travellers allowed.[18]
On 2 June, students returned to classrooms.[19]
On 4 June, the government allowed foreign travellers into the country.[20]
On 25 July, one new case was confirmed. It was a South Korean national.[21]
2,621 people were isolated over concerns.[22]
A second wave of vaccinations occurred.[23]
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]
| 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
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Confirmed deaths per day
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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 fromBangkok toVientiane | |||
| 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 |
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TheLaotian 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 worthUS$100,000.[26]
In April 2021, the Vietnamese government decided to provide a financial aid ofUS$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]
Some people have beenarrested for allegedly spreadingfalse information about the COVID-19 pandemic.[29]
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