VIENTIANE, June 2 (Xinhua) -- The Immigration Police Department will enhance the screening of everyone entering Laos, including specialists and foreigners employed in development projects.
The move is aimed at ensuring that everyone entering Laos is tested for COVID-19 and ensure that all new arrivals undergo quarantine, after many of the new cases of the virus were found among people arriving from other countries.
Local daily Vientiane Times on Wednesday quoted Deputy Director General of the Immigration Police Department under the Ministry of Public Security, Phetdavong Keokanya, as saying that the department was carrying out strict checks on everyone entering and departing from Laos, both at land borders and airports, as well as easing the passage of returning Lao workers.
All Lao nationals wishing to return to the country should enter at official border crossings.
Phetdavong said the department had also instructed immigration officials to partner with local authorities and soldiers to patrol borders to prevent people entering Laos illegally.
As of Tuesday, the total number of confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Laos is 1,929 with three deaths.
Laos reported its first two confirmed cases of COVID-19 on March 24 last year. Enditem
