Health authorities have warned tour and hotel operators to evaluate the risk of Covid-19 among travellers and hotel guests while the threat of the virus persists.
People with a recent history of travel to outbreak countries including China must undergo a health check before staying at a hotel or guesthouse.
This was the message from Deputy Minister of Health Associate Prof. Dr Phouthone Moungpak when he addressed a recent workshop on strengthening capacity to prevent the spread of Covid-19 for tourism-related businesses and hotel operators.
He said the ruling on health checks and the provision of information about the virus to travellers would come into effect immediately so that people would be informed of the situation before checking into a hotel.
In light of the spread of the virus, would-be travellers to outbreak countries or even to parts of the world with few or no cases should carefully consider their plans, he added.
Those wanting to travel should consult the websites of their home country and their intended destination to see what policies regarding the virus have been put in place.
“You should be extra careful to do the things we advise, such as washing your hands with soap and water, especially after touching surfaces or coming into contact with someone who has been coughing,” he said.
Although there are no confirmed cases of the coronavirus in Laos, festivals and other events have been cancelled or postponed to prevent the spread of the virus.
The latest postponement was the National Games in Xieng Khuang province which had been scheduled for March 22 to April 1.
The government is urging everyone to be on their guard and take precautions such as distancing themselves from people with coughs.
If you have any flu-like symptoms and are entering Laos from an outbreak area, please inform health workers at your port of entry.
If you have been to an outbreak area and develop symptoms after entering Laos, please call +856 20 5406 6777 to speak to a duty officer in Lao or English, at any time of the day or night. For more information, call the free hotline number 166 at any time.
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