Laos Faces Third Wave of Covid-19 As Omicron Spreads

The Nationwide Taskforce for Covid-19 Prevention and Management in Laos has introduced that the nation is dealing with a 3rd wave of coronavirus infections.

Dr. Lattanaxay Phetsouvanh, Director-Common of the Division of Communicable Illness Management, mentioned {that a} rise in instances of the Omicron variant could also be inflicting the nation to expertise its third wave.

“The variety of every day instances is trending upward in some provinces, notably in Vientiane Capital,” he mentioned.

“Though the numbers had been lately fairly low, generally under 200 instances per day, we’re seeing larger numbers now throughout this new outbreak.”

Well being officers mentioned that in random sampling within the nation’s capital, 9 out of ten sufferers had been confirmed to be contaminated with the Omicron variant.

Dr. Lattanaxay mentioned that Laos ought to keep in mind the experiences of neighboring international locations, the place case numbers elevated quickly inside one to 2 months after the Omicron variant was recognized locally.

He mentioned that though deaths from the Omicron variant are sometimes fewer than these brought on by Delta and different Covid variants, the Omicron pressure stays harmful for individuals over 60 years of age or these with underlying circumstances.

Officers have said on earlier events that attributable to an increase in home-testing and residential care, the formally reported every day case numbers might not mirror the true variety of instances locally at anybody time.