VIENTIANE, Oct. 12 (Xinhua) -- The Lao Ministry of Information, Culture and Tourism has issued a notice ordering continuing strict compliance with COVID-19 prevention measures.
The notice stresses that all entertainment venues are to remain closed and contained reminders of the rules in relation to weddings, festivals, and tour operators, local daily Vientiane Times reported on Monday.
The notice was issued last Friday by the Taskforce Committee for COVID-19 Prevention and Control under the Lao Ministry of Information, Culture, and Tourism.
The ministry is working with central and local authorities to carry out checks on entertainment venues, including karaoke bars, which are to remain closed.
There are also instructions on organizing festivals, weddings and social or cultural events which involve measures to ensure the virus does not resurface, including the use of hygienic practices and checking people's temperature, while participants are required to use hand sanitizer and wear face masks.
Tour operators are requested to seek permission from the Taskforce Committee to bring tour groups into Laos from countries where there is currently no community outbreak of COVID-19.
Pandemic prevention and control measures that have been in place since August will continue to be imposed until the end of October.
As of Friday, Laos has tested 56,923 suspected cases with 23 cases tested positive, and 22 patients have recovered.
The last patient has been treated in the designated hospital, Mittaphab Hospital (Hospital 150), in Lao capital Vientiane.
Laos announced its first two COVID-19 confirmed cases on March 24. Enditem
