VIENTIANE, March 24 (Xinhua) -- The Lao Ministry of Health reported 2,819 new COVID-19 cases on Thursday, the highest daily number since the outbreak of the disease in the country.
The previous record was 2,625 cases reported on Wednesday.
Deputy Director General of the National Center for Laboratory and Epidemiology under the Ministry of Health Bouaphan Khamphaphongphan told a press conference in the capital Vientiane that the country reported 2,819 new infections over the past 24 hours, raising the total caseload to 161,866.
The National Taskforce Committee for COVID-19 Prevention and Control said the cases included 2,776 locally transmitted cases and 43 imported cases.
Bouaphan said the capital Vientiane logged the highest number of infections at 1,086.
In light of the Omicron outbreak and the spiraling number of infections, the Ministry of Health is considering canceling Lao New Year festivities which fall in April.
As of Thursday, the total number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in Laos reached 161,866 with 652 deaths.
Laos reported its first two confirmed COVID-19 cases on March 24, 2020. ■