(Unofficial translation)

Lao People’s Democratic Republic

Peace Independence Democracy Unity Prosperity

Prime Minister Office                                                                                                                                                                                          No. 745/PMO

Vientiane Capital, 04 July 2021

NOTICE

To: - Ministers and Heads of Ministry Equivalence,

       - Vientiane Capital and Provincial Governors.

Subject: Extended the implementation of the Measures on Containment, Prevention, and Comprehensive Response to the COVID-19 Pandemic from 04 July to 19 July 2021.

-          Pursuant to the Decree on organization and function of the Prime Minister Office, No. 93/PM, dated 03 March 2017;

-          Pursuant to Prime Minister’s Order No. 15/PM, dated 21 April 2021;

-          Pursuant to the Guidance of the Prime Ministeron 03 July 2021.

The Prime Minister Officer has the honour to inform that: through the assessment of the COVID-19 outbreak situation on 02 July 2021 and the implementation of the Prime Minister’s Order No. 15/PM, dated 21 April 2021, Notice No. 671/PMO, dated 19 June 2021, and relevant measures issued by various sectors, it has been found that we are able to control the outbreak at the certain level, leading to the decreasing of community infection cases, especially in Vientiane Capital. Nevertheless, some of our neighbouring countries are facing new wave of the outbreak, with daily increase of infections and deaths. Moreover, there has been report of the new variant which is much more contagious and Lao PDR has also recently detected new imported cases with the Delta Covid-19 variant. Against this backdrop, our country is still at risk as some of our neighbouring countries are still facing community transmission and took preventive measures by closing businesses in some provinces, leading to the increase number of Lao labours to return back to the country. Therefore, we must continue our preparedness to response to and in particular implementing strict surveillance along the border in order to prevent any illegal border crossing. In addition, to minimize the impact to the socio-economic system and to achieve the target of a minimum infected case and fatality number as much as possible and to allow the society to swiftly return to the ‘new normal’ lifestyle, the Government has decided that it is necessary to extend all measures state in the Prime Minister’s Order No. 15/PM, dated 21 April 2021; Notice No. 671/PMO, dated 19 June 2021, and other relevant advisory notices previously issued by the Central Tasks Force Committee for another 15 days staring at 00:00 hrs of 05 July to 24:00 hrs of 19 July 2021, and easing some other measures as follows:

1. Some measures to be continued:

1.1 Strengthen the effort in searching for the individuals who are infected and bring them for treatment by enhancing the coordination and cooperation between the relevant local authorities at all levels and the responsible medical units, as well as relevant sector in the society through various means/methods; and to increase the vaccine inoculation to the target groups as the set target.

1.2 Close all night clubs, karaoke shops, entertainment venues, cinema, snooker cafes, massage shops, spas, internet café, and all types of gaming shops nationwide.

1.3 Prohibit all types of physical contacted sports such as: soccer/football, boxing and others in Vientiane Capital and in province that still have community transmission cases.

1.4 Close all educational institutions at all levels in Vientiane Capital and in provinces that still have community transmission cases, except boarding schools.

1.5 Close all industrial factories and handicraft workshops located in area or village identified as red zone, except for factories that their employees and workers have already completed 2 doses of vaccination, factories that have dormitories for its workers located inside the facility, factories for producing consumers’ goods, medicine, pandemic preventive items and medical equipment, but they must strictly follow the preventive measures issued by the Task Force Committee. During the work suspension period, the business owner of the factory shall issue rule to regulate its workers and coordinate with relevant authority to completely follow relevant rules and regulations of the Government on welfare policy.

1.6 Prohibit in and out of people of the infected area (red zone) as identified by the Task Force Committee, except for individual that have been approved by the relevant local authority on the condition of essential necessity.

1.7 Prohibit all type of social events or gathering in all locations.

1.8 Strengthening and strictly implementing all relevant prevention, control and response measures, namely body temperature check, at least 1-meter physical distancing, wearing mask, and hand washing with soap or hand sanitizer.

2. Relaxed measures:

2.1 Allow shopping malls, retails shops, supermarkets, minimarts, fresh markets, food vendors and night markets to open by practicing body temperature check, at least 1-meter physical distancing, wearing mask, hand washing with soap or hand sanitizer.

2.2 Allow walking exercise in public places and outdoor sport activities with no close/physical-contact.

2.3 Barber shops outside the red zone are allowed to open but avoid over-crowded customers inside and shall strictly implement the preventive measures.

2.4 Allow dine-in at restaurants, café, tourist attraction and food gardens by fully compliance with the preventive measures namely at least 1-meter physical distancing, and strictly prohibit serving of all type alcohol beverages, and implement all relevant preventive measures.

2.5 Allow organization of meetings at venue located outside the red zone but must fully compliance with the preventive measures issued by the Task Forces, namely body temperature checking, at least 1-meter physical distancing, wearing mask, and hand washing with soap or hand sanitizer.

2.6 Allow fishing boats to operate along the rivers bordering with neighbouring country between 06:00 hrs to 18:00 hrs. Local authorities together with the national force and public security in the area shall issue appropriate management measures, including deciding the number of fishing boat and shall strictly record time of departure and return of the boat, as well as to strictly and closely monitor the implementation.

2.7 Allow area without community infection cases to commute as normal.

2.8 Allow communal transport/public transport by land between provinces that has no community infected cases without quarantine; For commuters who have already completed 2 doses of vaccination are allowed to travel from and to Vientiane Capital or from and to provinces that still have community transmission cases, without permission from or quarantine required at the destination province, but must strictly follow the preventive measures issued by the Task Force Committee, namely body temperature checking, at least 1- meter physical distancing, wearing mask, and hand washing with soap or hand sanitizer. For Foreigners and Expats entering the Lao PDR and wish to travel to other provinces must show their travel documents, certificate of 14 days quarantine and permission letter issued by the Central Task Force Committee, and present the relevant documents to the relevant authority in order to exempt from quarantine at the destination province. As for Foreigners and Expats who are currently working or living in the Lao PDR at certain amount of time/duration, will be treated the same measures as Lao citizen.

2.9 Allow drivers and staffs for cross-provincial delivery to deliver their goods to the end recipient and between Vientiane Capital without transhipment, COVID-19 test and quarantine at their destination, but must strictly follow the preventive measures issued by the Task Force Committee. For cross-country movement of goods shall follow the previous practice. For practical implementation relevant sectors shall follow the Central Task Force Committee’s Advisory and Ministry of Public Work and Transport’s Advisory No. 242/MPWT, dated 23 April 2021.

2.10 Ministries, Ministry-equivalent, Vientiane Capital, enterprises in Vientiane Capital shall consider allowing their staffs, officers and employees to resume their work as normal, but strictly implement the preventive measures namely body temperature checking, provide hand sanitizer at the entrance, wearing mask, physical distancing, and hand washing with soap or hand sanitizer.

2.11 Allow the pre-learning, general, vocational, college and higher educational institutions in province that have no community transmission cases and with the permission from the Provincial’s Task Force Committee, to resume their operation.

2.12 Allow the final year class of vocational school, pedagogy, physical-cultural education and higher-level education in Vientiane Capital to resume, but must strictly implement COVID-19 preventive measures.

2.13 Allow all type of indoor sport complex in provinces that have no community infected cases. As for Vientiane Capital, the owners of the complex must request for permission from the Central Task Force Committee through the Education and Sport sector. As for in province that still has community transmission cases, the owners of the complex must request for permission from the Provincial’s Task Force Committee through the Education and Sport sector. In addition, must ensure strictly preventive measures, including checking the venue before giving approval and following-up once the venue has opened.

3. Ministries, Ministry-equivalent, local authorities and the Task Force Committee at all levels shall strictly and responsively implement this Notice.

Therefore, it is the honour to notify all sectors nationwide for your kind information and strict implementation of this Notice.

                                                                                                     Minister,

                                                                     Permanent Secretary of the Prime Minister Office

                                                                                              (Signed and Sealed)

                                                                                               Khamjane Vongphosy