On March 30th 2020, at the International Cooperation and Training Center (ICTC), H.E. Mr Saleumxay KOMMASITH, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Lao PDR, Chaired the Briefing on the Prime Minister’s Order on reinforcement measures on containment, prevention and full response to the COVID-19 pandemic to Diplomats and representatives of International Organization in the Lao PDR.
I. The Current Situation of the Novel Corona virus 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic:
1. Situation around the world:
The outbreak of COVID-19 began in Wuhan City, Hubei Province, the People’s Republic of China at the end of 2019. To date, China has been able to contain the COVID-19 outbreak and furthermore it has been providing assistance to countries that are now facing the COVID-19 pandemic, which continues to spread widely in many countries across the regions and the world where the most heavily affected countries are in Europe (Italy, France, Spain) as well as in Iran. Based on the statistical data as of 06:00 AM of 18th March 2020, more than 165 countries are facing the COVID-19 outbreak with 199,092 confirmed COVID-19 cases, of which 7,966 deaths and 81,109 recovered.
On 12 March 2020, the World Health Organisation (WHO) declared this Public Health Emergency – a pandemic and urged countries around the world to step up surveillance, prevention, control and response measures (against COVID-19).