VIENTIANE, Oct. 27 (Xinhua) -- Authorities in several provinces of Laos have ordered the continuation of lockdowns and travel bans in a strengthened attempt to slow the rising tide of infections.
In central Laos' Khammuan province, a lockdown is in place until November 8. Anyone needing to enter the province for essential reasons must first get permission from provincial authorities, local daily Vientiane Times reported on Wednesday.
They must also have had two doses of a COVID-19 vaccine as well as a certificate proving they are COVID-19-negative following a test done in the past 72 hours. Residents of Khammuan wishing to travel outside the province must also get permission from provincial authorities.
In northern Laos' Bokeo province, travel between districts is banned until November 8. Markets in virus-risk zones have been temporarily closed, while the sale of street food has been suspended.
Food delivery may continue but all the food must come from restaurants in green zones, and payments must be made with a bank card so that no cash is used.
In Bolikhamxay province, authorities have ordered a lockdown until November 2 and are strengthening travel checks on the streets, with people to be prosecuted if they break the rules.
In Vientiane province, a lockdown is in place until November 7 and travel within the province is banned. Anyone entering Vientiane province must spend 14 days in quarantine.
Local cases of COVID-19 continued to increase and spread across multiple provinces in Laos.
The country reported 733 new cases on Wednesday, bringing the national tally to 37,751. The new cases included 731 local infections and two imported cases.
A total of 731 community cases were newly recorded. Laos reported its first two confirmed COVID-19 cases on March 24 last year. Enditem