Lao PDR Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Situation Report #38 Report as of 31 August 2021 17:00 GMT+7 (18 -31 Aug 2021)

Situation Summary

Highlights of Current Situation Report ● 4,368 cases and five deaths were reported from 18-31 August 2021, bringing the cumulative total to 15,095 confirmed cases of Covid-19 with fourteen deaths since March 2020. On 31August, there remained 4,983 active cases. o The tenth death was a 55-year old male migrant worker with hypertension who tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 in and entered Lao PDR through . He was admitted to the isolation facility on 11 August. He experienced respiratory distress and his condition deteriorated, he passed away on 19 August. o The eleventh death was a 26-year old female migrant worker who was nine months pregnant when she entered Lao PDR through Khammuane province on 3 August. She tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 on 6 August and was referred to the military hospital. On 8 August she gave birth. The following day she experienced fever, cough and difficulty breathing. On 16 August she was moved to a field hospital and she passed away on 20 August. o The twelfth death was a 35-year-old male prisoner in Savannakhet that tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 on 23 August and passed away the following day. o The thirteenth death was a 74-year-old female from Savankkahet with hypertension. She was admitted to hospital on 27 August with symptoms of cough, loss of sense of smell and taste and her condition worsened. She passed away on 29 August. o The fourteenth death was a 33-year old prisoner in Savannakhet confirmed positive on 25 August and passed away on 29 August. ● The cases in the last two weeks increased compared to the previous two weeks (4-17 August, n=3,625), due to the continued number of imported cases but also increase in local cases (Figure 1). • Cases were from fourteen provinces (Figure 2A), of which 67% (2,922/4,368) were imported. • Majority of the imported cases were returnees arriving by land border from Thailand in Champasack (32%; n=925), Savannakhet (22%; n=648), Khammuane (19%; n=548), Capital (14%; n=414), with cases also reported from Saravane (n=340), Xayabhoury (n=19), Bolikhamxay (n=16), Luangprabang (n=8), Luangnamtha (n=1), Oudomxay (n=1), Vientiane Province (n=1) and Bokeo (n=1). • There were 1,446 locally acquired cases in the past two weeks reported in thirteen provinces (Figure 2B). o Savannakhet reported the highest number of local cases (72%; n=1047). Most cases (n=818) were linked to two prisons in Kaysone district with cases reported among prisoners (n=804), staff (n=6) and close contacts (n=8) of prison staff. A team from central level including public security officials have been deployed to support the outbreaks in prison. Savannakhet health and public security sectors have activated their EOCs to prevent spread into the community, to other prisons and to ensure care pathways are in place to manage severe cases. In addition, 17 frontline staff have been infected in the past 2 weeks (7 HCWs of which 1 worked in a QF; 5 detention officers ; 3 QF staff; and 2 PoE staff). There were also 7 unlinked cases reported in the past 2 weeks with ongoing investigation to identify the source of infection. As of 24 August, there were at least 9 active clusters reported including in prisons, workplaces and households.

o Bokeo reported 186 local cases in the past 2 weeks in Tonphaeng and Huaxay districts. One case from the affected funeral travelled to Luangprabang to attend a funeral before returning to and testing positive. A further 36 cases have been linked to this funeral in 5 provinces including Luangprabang, Vientiane Province,

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Lao PDR Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Situation Report #38 Report as of 31 August 2021 17:00 GMT+7 (18 -31 Aug 2021)

Luangnamtha, Oudomxay and Xayabhoury. As of 31 August, there were 6 red-zone villages in two districts. o Ninety-five local cases were reported in Vientiane Capital. There are at least three active cluster with one cluster with 25 cases, as of 31 August with transmission occurring in households and workplaces. Another cluster has 56 cases as of 31 August with transmission occurring in the workplace, households and through social interactions. Two cases are frontline workers working in quarantine facilities. Three cases are unlinked. Further investigations are ongoing. • As of 31 August 2021, there were 21 severe cases reported in the country. • Most cases are from the 20-29 year age group followed by the 30-39 year age group (Figure 3). ● Institute Pasteur du (IPL) is conducting sequencing of Covid-19 cases. From 20 April to 31 August, a total of 141 samples have been sequenced. • 63 samples were of the Alpha (B.1.1.7) variant and 2 samples classified as Alpha (B.1.1.7 variant plus other mutation), including imported cases, and also local cases in Vientiane Capital, Vientiane Province, and cases in Bokeo from early May. In the past week, the Alpha variant was reported in cases from Bokeo. • 69 samples were of the Delta variant (B.1.617.2) and 6 samples were classified the Delta variant (B.1.617.2 plus other mutations). Majority of Delta variant samples were returnees from Thailand and Russia. In the past week, the Delta variant was detected in community cases in Attapeu, Bokeo, Sekong and Luangprabang. • The remaining sample was the Mu variant (B.1.621) in a traveller from Colombia.

Figure 1. Epicurve of confirmed cases by date of reporting, 20 Apr- 31 August 2021 (n=15,037)

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Lao PDR Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Situation Report #38 Report as of 31 August 2021 17:00 GMT+7 (18 -31 Aug 2021)

Figure 2. Geographical distribution of confirmed cases in Lao PDR, 18-31 August A. Confirmed cases (n=4368) B. Locally acquired cases (n=1446)

Figure 3. Age and sex distribution of cumulative Covid-19 cases as of 31 August (n=14,676)

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Lao PDR Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Situation Report #38 Report as of 31 August 2021 17:00 GMT+7 (18 -31 Aug 2021)

Investigation and Surveillance • Central level teams, led by the Department of Communicable Diseases Control (DCDC) and the National Centre of Laboratory and Epidemiology (NCLE), FET trainees with technical support from WHO are currently in Savannakhet, Khammuane and Bokeo to support and strengthen data management, case investigation, enhanced surveillance and multisource surveillance. • On 21 and 23 August, briefing meetings were held with FET trainees, supervisors and WHO to prepare FET trainees for deployment to Savannakhet, Khammuane and Bokeo to clarify terms of references and to brief trainees on staying safe in the field. • Local cases from the 13 provinces have had close contacts identified from the community who are in home and facility quarantine and are being monitored by village or health authorities. • Imported cases with travel history to Lao PDR were reported in China (n=5) and in Thailand (n=3) in the last two weeks. • DCDC continues to coordinate and supervise the conduct of provincial multisource surveillance meetings in priority provinces, with technical support from WHO. Savannakhet and Champasack are regularly assessing evidence of transmission with technical support from WHO. A joint multisource surveillance meeting was held with Vientiane Capital on 29 August. Plans are underway to conduct multisource surveillance meetings with Khammuane province on 2 September.

Laboratory Testing • Other laboratories have been supporting NCLE with testing at central level. The following samples were tested by each laboratory:

Laboratory Number of specimens tested 18-31 August Institute Pasteur du Laos (IPL) 5,584 Lao-Oxford-Mahosot Hospital-Welcome Trust Research Unit(LOMWRU) Centre d’infect Center Infectiology Lao- Christophe Mérieux (CILM) 3,497 Centre d’infect Center Infectiology Lao-Christophe Mérieux (CILM) 3,553 NCLE 15,881

• Up to now, there are 10 provinces with PCR testing capacity. The maximum daily testing capacity at the provincial level is up to 500 samples. • In the past two weeks in Vientiane Capital, nearly 8,000 samples among non-returnees were tested with a positivity rate of 1.2% (Figure 4). • The number of community tests conducted in other provinces in the last 2 weeks ranged from 9-4,174 tests, with the positivity rates highest in Savannakhet and Saravane provinces (Figure 4). • Enhanced detection among frontline workers and high risk settings continue to be conducted, with nearly 2,266 samples collected in 14 provinces in August, including healthcare workers (n=820), POE staff (n=273), quarantine facility staff (n=321), markets (n=827), and factory workers (n=25). • Among returnees, the positivity rates were highest in Savannakhet, Champasack and Vientiane Capital (Figure 5). • A handover ceremony was held by the Ministry of Health on 26 August to receive laboratory reagents and supplies for Covid-19 testing from the Australian Government. 2.25 million AUD was provided through the WHO to support testing with the Health Minister, Australian Ambassador and acting WHO Representative attending the ceremony. Page 4 of 12

Lao PDR Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Situation Report #38 Report as of 31 August 2021 17:00 GMT+7 (18 -31 Aug 2021)

• A virtual meeting was held by NCLE with support of WHO in seven provinces on 24 August to disseminate priority testing recommendations, management of priority samples, testing of previously confirmed cases, sample referral and data management.

Figure 4. Total number of tests and positivity rate per province, from 18 - 31 August

Figure 5. Total tests and positivity rate by source among returnees, from 18-31 August

Clinical management and care pathways • The Department of Healthcare and Rehabilitation (DHR), central level clinicians and WHO have provided training in clinical management of patients with severe disease to clinical teams in Savannakhet, Champasack and Saravane. • DHR conducted IPC training, waste management and clinical management training for Ha Mesa which will manage one Isolation Facility (IF) in Vientiane Capital and is planning to conduct more training for central hospitals. • DHR developed a standardized list of medical equipment, essential medicines and consumables for IF with support from WHO. It has been reviewed and agreed with DHR, FDD and MPSC. It will be disseminated to provinces. FDD also organized a meeting with provinces for better coordination on logistics management, specifically to ensure availability of PPE. • DHR deployed a central team with WHO team for clinical management and IPC to Khammuane to support management of COVID-19 patients and implementation of IPC measures in QFs and IFs. Page 5 of 12

Lao PDR Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Situation Report #38 Report as of 31 August 2021 17:00 GMT+7 (18 -31 Aug 2021)

• DHR and the Department of Hygiene and Health Promotion (DHHP), with support from WHO, visited two Isolation Facilities to assess Infection Prevention and Control and WASH capacity and develop a plan to prepare them according to IPC and WASH standards. • IPC and WASH measures in QF have been reviewed and revised. It has been shared with Vientiane Capital Health Department for their review. • The Department of Health Professional Education (DHPE), DHHP, DHR and midwife association / obstetric association with UNFPA and WHO are providing provincial level virtual training on Reproductive, Maternal, Newborn, Child and Adolescent Health are at QFs and IFs. • The volume of general (food packages, water bottles) and infectious waste has been increasing in QFs and IFs. There is a need to increase capacity of waste management services and equipment and supplies. WHO handed over the 59 autoclaves for on-site treatment of infectious and sharps waste in all IFs in Vientiane Capital and selected hospitals in the southern provinces for successful implementation of the health care waste management guide. • The Department of Health Professional Education (DHPE), DHHP, DHR and midwife association / obstetric association with UNFPA and WHO are providing provincial level virtual training on Reproductive, Maternal, Newborn, Child and Adolescent Health care at QFs and IFs. • The volume of general (food packages, water bottles) and infectious waste has been increasing in QFs and IFs. There is a need to increase capacity of waste management services and equipment and supplies. WHO handed over the 59 autoclaves for on-site treatment of infectious and sharps waste in all IFs in Vientiane Capital and selected hospitals in the southern provinces for successful implementation of the health care waste management guide.

Vaccines • Overall, COVID-19 vaccine coverages of at least 1 dose and all recommended doses were 33.7% and 24.6% respectively, as of 31 August 2021. • Since health centres are mobilised for the vaccine delivery in late July–early August and more vaccines became available, vaccine absorption capacity has markedly improved with the daily number of COVID vaccine doses administered at around 100,000 doses (Figure 6). • Vaccination coverage disparity between provinces is large and the provinces which have a high number of reported cases (i.e., Savannakhet, Bokeo, Champasack) needs attention to ramp up the vaccine roll out in order to protect the vulnerable population and the health system. • Preparations are underway for the next NITAG meeting which will discuss a number of topics including Covid-19 vaccination in pregnant women and adolescents/children.

Figure 6. Daily number of COVID-19 vaccine doses administered, 2 July–31 August 2021

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Lao PDR Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Situation Report #38 Report as of 31 August 2021 17:00 GMT+7 (18 -31 Aug 2021)

Risk communication and community engagement • Nationwide Risk Communication training is complete, with WHO supporting the compilation of training materials into a toolkit/package for MOH. • Posters are to be printed for quarantine centres and communities, on prevention, transmission and symptoms and are currently being finalized. • MOH is developing more audio messages for quarantine centres and communities with the support of mass organizations and WHO. • A media briefing supported by the European Union was held on 27 August for 30 journalists to update the current COVID-19 situation. • A KAP survey will be conducted on understanding behavioural changes in term of protective measures, knowledge on symptoms, transmission, vaccination and mental health. • The Center for Communication and Education for Health (CCEH) with WHO are developing Tik Tok- style videos and interviews with migrant workers using CCEH’s network. • MOH will repeat risk-based messages on transmission, symptoms, protective measures and vaccination while continuing to remind the public on PHSMs included in the Government’s notices with the support of WHO. • The COVID-19 Q&A is being finalized with NCLE (including definitions of close contacts (C1), close contacts of close contacts (C2), quarantine advice, signs and symptoms, transmissions modes- with an epidemiological focus • The Ministry of Home Affairs (MoHA), DHHP, DCDC, Lao Tropical and Public Health Institute (TPHI) and Mother and Child Health Center (MCHC) with WHO have been conducting workshops on local governance and community engagement. Currently a workshop is being conducted in Khoun District in Xiengkhuang province. The community engagement workshop covers vaccine promotion and testing for close contacts, home quarantine, psychosocial support of quarantined families, contact monitoring, and stigma prevention. DHHP is planning to hold a meeting with DCDC, MCHC, TPHI and MoHA to endorse modules and agree on the roll out plan

Epidemiology

Epi Update 6,323 (79.1%) 10 10 0 Covid-19 Imported Cases in past 28 Cases in past 28 days Active Clusters Active clusters with days (%) with no link >3 generations

Tests Cases Deaths 11 39,961 4,314 5 ICU Admissions NAT Tests past 14 days New cases past 14days Deaths past 14 days ICU Admissions ICU Admissions past 7days (-19.61% 7-day)

432,623 15,013 14 Cumulative NAT Tests Cumulative Cases Cumulative Deaths 17 Cumulative ICU Admissions

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Lao PDR Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Situation Report #38 Report as of 31 August 2021 17:00 GMT+7 (18 -31 Aug 2021)

Health 701 9 4081 139 Service Health care workers Healthcare worker Hospitals admitting Total ICU beds Provision trained in COVID-19 Case cases reported COVID-19 patients Management past 14 days Covid-19

ILI/SARI sentinel surveillance

● From 18 Aug to 31 Aug 2021, samples from sentinel sites were tested (40 ILI, 10 SARI). From 18 Aug to 31 all tested negative for SARS-CoV-2 and influenza.

● Sentinel ILI have remained relatively stable and lower than previous years (Figure 7). The proportion of ILI consultations per total consultations shows a similar pattern with consultations below the 3-year average. SARI cases remain lower than previous years (Figure 8) and the proportion of SARI admissions per total hospitalisations has been declining and also remains below the 3-year average.

Figure 7. Weekly number of ILI presentations at sentinel sites, as of week 34, 2021 (Source: NCLE)

Figure 8: Weekly number of SARI cases reported to the notifiable disease surveillance, as of week 34, 2021 (Source: NCLE)

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Lao PDR Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Situation Report #38 Report as of 31 August 2021 17:00 GMT+7 (18 -31 Aug 2021)

Transmission Assessment:

As of 31 August, Vientiane Capital, Champasack and Savannakhet remains in Stage 2a(Localized community transmission), and Bokeo province has have moved to Stage 2a. Ten provinces are in Stage 1 b (Imported cases), and four provinces are in Stage 0 b (No cases). In Vientiane Capital, 95 locally acquired cases were reported in the last 14 days, including three unlinked cases. One cluster has 56 confirmed cases reported within a one-week period with transmission settings in workplaces, households and social interactions. Vientiane Capital is at risk of large-scale transmission with the positivity rate of community testing increasing (<0.5% from 4-17 August to 1.2% from 18-31 August) and 1 unlinked case reported through exit screening. There was no observed increase in SARI cases, or the number of ICU beds and ventilators used in Vientiane Capital. In Savannakhet, there have been an increase in local cases particularly in the prison setting with over 800 confirmed cases and 2 deaths reported in the past 2 weeks. There are nine known active clusters in the province and 7 unlinked cases. There is a high risk of large-scale community transmission however currently there is no observed increase in SARI cases, no cases on ventilators and 8 cases on oxygen. In the past two weeks the positivity rate has increased (2.4% from 4-17 August to 25.1% from 18-31 August) which is predominantly due to the high positivity rate among prison populations. In Champasack, there has been a reduction in local cases with 4 reported in the past 2 weeks of which 3 were frontline workers. The positivity rate decreased (1.3% from 4-17 August to 0.6% from 18-31 August). There has been a slight increase in SARI case numbers however no samples tested positive for SARS-CoV- 2 and there are no severe cases of Covid-19 reported as of 31 August. In Bokeo, an outbreak has been reported in outside Bokeo SEZ with 186 confirmed cases reported in the past 2 weeks. Following report of the index case, further transmission was reported linked to a traditional ceremony and households and as 24 villages in 2 districts have reported cases. Further transmission occurred after a case travelled to Luangprabang to attend a funeral with 36 cases reported in 5 provinces. There have not been any SARI cases reported in Bokeo since week 7, the central team are supporting the province to further strengthen surveillance for Covid-19 and also SARI reporting. Ten provinces are in Stage 1. Saravane, Khammuane, Luangprabang, Luangnamtha, Oudomxay, Bolikhamxay, Xayabouly, Attapeu, Sekong and Vientiane Province. The remaining four provinces did not report any cases in the past 28 days. There are no clear signals of community transmission in these 14 provinces . Overall, the risk of undetected transmission in the wider community remains high. Both the Alpha and Delta variants have been detected in the country. Some provinces are conducting few tests in the community, and testing of ILI/SARI and enhanced detection efforts are being improved. With local cases increasing and intra- and inter-provincial travel there is a risk of community transmission in provinces and further spread to other provinces. There is also a continued risk for additional introductions from illegal crossing to all border provinces. a Assessment done by Ministry of Health together with Local Health Department bAssessment done by WHO, with concurrence from Ministry of Health

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Lao PDR Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Situation Report #38 Report as of 31 August 2021 17:00 GMT+7 (18 -31 Aug 2021)

Strategic Approach National and Provincial Public Health Response ● National EOC activated and continuing to meet daily. ● Operational plan for the next 2 years to ensure COVID-19 response is adequately supported within the larger health system. ● There are ongoing efforts to collaborate with relevant Ministries to strengthen the local government's role and responsibilities for community engagement. ● Continued efforts to monitor and maintain essential health services have been made to ensure performance of the broader health system during COVID-19. ● Transparency and visible leadership: MOH hold regular press conferences and publishes short updates online regularly.

Strategic Approach to COVID-19 Prevention, Detection and Control ● Strategies are in place and updated to facilitate early identification of cases. ● Multisource surveillance is being used at the central level and subnational level to inform evidence- based decision-making. ● Increasing laboratory testing capacity through establishment of regional molecular laboratories. This will increase both the testing capacity and shorten the time for results to be available. ● Continuing to roll out the vaccination campaign in all provinces as per the National Deployment and Vaccination Plan ● Risk communication on COVID-19 and the “new normal”.

Best Practices / Lessons Learned ● Whole of government coordination, through ad-hoc committees, taskforces and EOC. ● Regular, timely and open public risk communications. ● Engagement of other sectors to assist with both the COVID-19 response and the larger socioeconomic impacts caused by COVID-19.

Challenges Encountered ● Isolation facility capacity at the provincial level are prepared for an increase in COVID-19 cases and possible large-scale community transmission including case management capacity, IPC measures and adequate medical equipment and personal protection equipment (PPE), waste management, and clarifying care pathways to ensure facilities are prepared for severe cases. ● Improving data management in a number of areas e.g. surveillance and laboratory, PPE supplies and healthcare capacity to support decision making. ● Management of locally acquired cases and clusters including case investigation, contact tracing and enhanced surveillance in addition to ongoing cases occurring among returnees. ● Ensuring frontline workers have the training and equipment and supplies required to protect themselves to prevent infection. ● Although strong public health and social measures are in place, there is a need to strengthen implementation and have clear communication with communities to ensure compliance. ● Rapidly evolving evidence on impact of variants of concern, which would impact on recommendations for quarantine and deisolation duration and preparedness of treatment facilities, among others. ● Efforts needed to rapidly scale-up vaccination coverage of priority groups in all provinces.

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Lao PDR Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Situation Report #38 Report as of 31 August 2021 17:00 GMT+7 (18 -31 Aug 2021)

Non-Pharmaceutical Interventions (NPI) Public health measures • On 31 August a new Prime Minister Order was issued to extend public health measures from 1 – 15 September 2021 with some measures revised as below: o People are prohibited from traveling in and out of the red zone as listed by the National Taskforce Committee except for those permitted by the committee and for good transportation. o All types of indoor and outdoor sport centers must be closed. All types of sport competitions including exercising in public parks where community transmission is occurring are prohibited. o Meetings, gatherings or activities with more than 20 participants, such as religious activities, traditional festivals and weddings are prohibited. Meetings, gatherings or activities can be held only if permitted by the National or Provincial Taskforce Committee. Funerals and associated ceremonies can be organized by complying strictly with measures issued by the National Taskforce Committee, namely: temperature check, social distancing of at least 1 meter, facemask wearing, hand cleaning with soap or sanitizer. o All types of parties or social gatherings are prohibited. o Stockpiling and increasing price of consumer goods, medical equipment and other necessary items for daily use are prohibited. o All types of vehicles are prohibited to commute starting from 22:00 to 05:00 excluding vehicles transporting goods, food, medical equipment, ambulances, fire trucks, rescue trucks, vehicles of the taskforce committee and operating officials. o Postpone the opening of the new academic year for all levels and subjects of study, including the entrance examination for vocational, teacher’s training and tertiary education in areas where there is community transmission. • On 30 August, the Governor of Vientiane Capital issued a notice until community transmission can be controlled including: o Prohibiting all forms of functions or gatherings at all places. Violators will be put in quarantine and face fines as well as responsibility for related costs. o Prohibiting meetings, trainings and other activities of more than 20 participants and ensure compliance of Covid-19 preventative and control measures. o Prohibiting traffic within Vientiane Capital from 22:00-05:00 except for trucks/vehicles transporting goods, food, medical supplies, ambulances, fire trucks, rescue teams, and vehicles of the taskforce and officials on duty. o Close all schools as well as admission exams for vocational, teaching and tertiary education. • On 30 August, the Governor of Kaison District issued a notice to extend measures including: o No travel in and out of Kaison District unless necessary which will be approved by the provincial taskforce. o Daily curfew from 7pm to 5am unless for health-related reasons, deaths, emergencies and Covid-19 testing. o C1 (close contacts), C2 (close contacts of close contacts) and C3 (close contacts of close contacts of close contacts) need to quarantine for 14 days at home or at a designated hotel. o No traditional and religious gatherings are allowed expect funerals not related to Covid-19. Only ten people are allowed with preventative measures to be strictly implemented. o Close eateries, grocery stores and lottery stores. o Employees are asked to work from home except for taskforce staff who are responsible for the outbreak response. o Fines will apply if:

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Lao PDR Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Situation Report #38 Report as of 31 August 2021 17:00 GMT+7 (18 -31 Aug 2021)

▪ Not wearing a mask when going outside ▪ Breaching the curfew ▪ Opening restricted businesses and offices ▪ Gambling ▪ Gathering or partying ▪ Not quarantining or providing information • As of 31 August, red zones remain in Vientiane Province (n=1), Vientiane Capital (n=16), Bokeo (n=24) and Savannakhet (n=15) in addition to localized lockdowns in place in Bokeo, Sekong, Attapeu and Savannakhet provinces.

Monitoring status Implementation Partial lift Lifted Non-Pharmaceutical Geographical Interventions Date first Date last (national or sub- Recommended or Lifted for Lifted for all implemented modified national) Required some areas areas

Wearing Face Masks, Hand Hygiene, Respiratory 3 February 2020 None National Recommended No No Etiquette

School Closure 17 March 2020 August 2021 National Recommended No No

Workplace Closure 29 March 2020 April 2021 National Required Yes Noa

Mass Gatherings 2 March 2020 April 2021 Sub-national Required No No

Stay at Home 1 April 2020 20 May 2021 Sub-national Recommended Yes Noa

Restrictions on Internal 1 April 2020 April 2021 Sub-national Required Yes Noa Movement (within country)

Restrictions on International 29 March 2020 None National Required Nob No Travel

Others; None None - - - -

aStay-at-home and interprovincial border measures implemented in some provinces. bIncoming charter flights to Vientiane City are allowed upon approval by the Ad Hoc Committee

Figure 9: Epicurve by week of reporting (n=15,080) and timeline of significant public health and social measures in Lao PDR, 1 March 2020 – 31 August 2021

*Epi week 36 includes 2 days of data only, 30-31 August, please see daily epicurve for more details

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