VIENTIANE, May 20 (Xinhua) -- Laos reported no new case of COVID-19 for 38 consecutive days, although the Lao government has urged authorities and people countrywide to fully comply with the government's guidelines to stop the spread of the virus.
Lao Deputy Minister of Health Phouthone Meaungpak, told a press conference in Lao capital Vientiane on Wednesday that authorities and people countrywide must continue their efforts in implementing preventative measures, even as no new case was confirmed for 38 consecutive days.
Laos began to lift nine COVID-19 restrictions on Monday, with four restrictions will remain in place, according to The National Taskforce Committee for COVID-19 Prevention and Control.
Final-year classes in primary, lower and upper secondary schools started to reopen on Monday, but school administrators must implement precautionary measures to prevent a further outbreak of COVID-19, according to Lao Deputy Minister of Education and Sports Kongsy Sengmany.
The measures for reopening schools include cleaning classrooms and grounds and spraying disinfectant around their facilities to reduce the risk of infections.
Administrative staff, teachers and students must wear face masks at all times at school, and parents must also wear masks while picking up their children.
The schools should have soap, hand gel, and hand washbasins for students.
Teachers should arrange suitable seating for students with social distancing of at least one meter and everyone must have their body temperature checked before entering school, according to the report.
As of Wednesday, Laos has tested 4,734 suspected cases with 19 cases tested positive, and 14 patients have recovered.
Another five infected cases are treated in designated hospital -- Mittaphab Hospital (Hospital 150) in Vientiane.
Laos announced its first two COVID-19 confirmed cases on March 24. Enditem
