# COVID-19 pandemic in Laos

The COVID-19 pandemic in Laos is part of the worldwide pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). On 24 March 2020, Laos became the last country in Southeast Asia to report its confirmed case of the virus. As of 5 June 2022, there were a total of 210,081 cases and 756 deaths. On 4 May 2021, Laos exceeded 1,000 cases of COVID-19. Five days later, the country recorded the first death.
On 21 December 2021, Laos overtook China in terms of the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases.

## Background

On 12 January 2020, the World Health Organization (WHO) confirmed that a novel coronavirus was the cause of a respiratory illness in a cluster of people in Wuhan City, Hubei Province, China, which was reported to the WHO on 31 December 2019.
The case fatality ratio for COVID-19 has been much lower than SARS of 2003, but the transmission has been significantly greater, with a significant total death toll.

## Timeline
### 2020
#### March

On 13 March, provincial authorities closed some of border posts.
On 24 March, Laos confirmed its first two COVID-19 cases, becoming the last Southeast Asian country infected with coronavirus.
On 26 March, the Vientiane Times confirmed the country's third COVID-19 case.
On 27 March, there were six cases confirmed. Two more men from Luang Prabang, and one from Vientiane.
On 28 March, there were 2 more confirmed, bringing a total to 8.
On 30 March, there was 1 more confirmed, bringing everything to a total of 9.

#### April

On 1 April, one more case was confirmed, bringing a total to 10.
On 5 April 2020, the 11th case was reported as a 55-year-old man from Papua New Guinea.
The government announced a lockdown on 29, March, starting on 30 March. All land borders closed and the last flights departed from Luang Prabang and Vientiane occurred on 1 April.

#### May

By May 18, more restrictions had been loosened, allowing domestic travel, without foreign travellers allowed.

#### June

On 2 June, students returned to classrooms.
On 4 June, the government allowed foreign travellers into the country.

#### July to December

On 25 July, one new case was confirmed. It was a South Korean national.
2,621 people were isolated over concerns.

### 2021
#### March

A second wave of vaccinations occurred.

#### May

On the morning of 9 May, Laos recorded the first death due to COVID-19. The Embassy of Vietnam in Vientiane confirmed that was a Vietnamese woman died after one week of treatment.

## Statistics

COVID-19 pandemic in Laos (per WHO) :
| Province | Confirmed | Deaths |
| Savannakhet | 6,865 | 8 |
| Vientiane | 6,299 | 6 |
| Champasak | 5,076 | 4 |
| Khammouane | 2,503 | 1 |
| Salavan | 1,653 | 1 |
| Bokeo | 1,097 | 0 |
| Luang Prabang | 613 | 0 |
| Vientiane Province | 341 | 1 |
| Bolikhamsai | 138 | 0 |
| Luang Namtha | 103 | 0 |
| Xaisomboun | 82 | 0 |
| Xayaboury | 55 | 0 |
| Oudomxay | 38 | 0 |
| Xiangkhouang | 26 | 0 |
| Attapeu | 12 | 0 |
| Sekong | 8 | 0 |
| Phongsaly | 7 | 0 |
Confirmed new cases per day
Confirmed deaths per day
Confirmed cases March - July 2020
Details of the confirmed cases in Laos vte :
| Case | Date | Age | Gen⁠der | National⁠ity | Location | Previous country been to | Status | Note | Source |
| 1 | 24 March 2020 | 28 | Male | Laos | Vientiane | Thailand | Discharged | | |
| 2 | 24 March 2020 | 36 | Female | Laos | Vientiane | No | Discharged | Tour guide | |
| 3 | 25 March 2020 | 26 | Male | Laos | Vientiane | Europe | Discharged | Close contact with case 1 | |
| 4 | 26 March 2020 | 42 | Male | Laos | Luang Prabang | No | Discharged | Driver of same tour group as case 2. | |
| 5 | 26 March 2020 | 42 | Male | Laos | Luang Prabang | No | Discharged | |
| 6 | 26 March 2020 | 41 | Male | Laos | Vientiane | No | Discharged | In patient | Close contact with case 3 |
| 7 | 28 March 2020 | 50 | Female | Laos | Luang Prabang | No | Discharged | In patient | Wife of case 5 |
| 8 | 28 March 2020 | 18 | Male | Laos | Vientiane | No | Discharged | In patient | Close contact with case 3 |
| 9 | 29 March 2020 | 22 | Female | Laos | Vientiane | Thailand | Discharged | In patient | Visited her relative in Bangkok |
| 10 | 25 March 2020 | 21 | Female | Laos | Vientiane | No | Discharged | In patient | Close contact with case 8 |
| 11 | 5 April 2020 | 55 | Male | Papua New Guinea | Vientiane | Papua New Guinea | Discharged | In patient | Mining company employee |
| 12 | 6 April 2020 | 20 | Female | Laos | Vientiane | United Kingdom | Discharged | In patient | Been on the same flight as case 11 from Bangkok to Vientiane |
| 13 | 7 April 2020 | 40 | Male | Laos | Vientiane | No | Discharged | Close contact with case 11 | |
| 14 | 7 April 2020 | 19 | Female | Laos | Vientiane | United Kingdom | Discharged | | |
| 15 | 8 April 2020 | 20 | Female | Laos | Vientiane | United Kingdom | Discharged | Close contact with case 12. Been on the same flight with cases 11 and 12. | |
| 16 | 10 April 2020 | 23 | Female | Laos | Vientiane | No | Discharged | Close contact with case 10. | |
| 17 | 11 April 2020 | 32 | Female | Laos | Vientiane | No | Discharged | In patient | Close contact with case 16. |
| 18 | 11 April 2020 | 32 | Female | Laos | Vientiane | No | Discharged | In patient | Close contact with case 16. |
| 19 | 12 April 2020 | 21 | Male | Laos | Vientiane | No | Discharged | In patient | Close contact with case 16. |
| 20 | 27 July 2020 | 32 | Male | South Korea | Vientiane | Japan | | | |

## Assistance

The Laotian Times says China sent medical experts, medical equipment and medicines, to help Laos fight COVID-19.
On 27 March, Vietnam offers help by sending medical equipment worth US$100,000.
In April 2021, the Vietnamese government decided to provide a financial aid of US$500,000 to fight against COVID disease, in addition to sending experts and supporting additional medical equipment for Laos. On 4 May 2021, Vietnam's Deputy Minister of Health Nguyen Truong Son and 32 experts departed for Laos to set up field hospitals, increase emergency resuscitation and strengthen testing capacity.

## Censorship

Some people have been arrested for allegedly spreading false information about the COVID-19 pandemic.