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.
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]
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]
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]
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]
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