New Covid-19 infection confirmed

A Korean electric technician of the Nam Ngieb hydropower project has tested positive for Covid-19, according to the Ministry of Health.

Seventeen people who have close contact with him have been placed under a 14-day quarantine.

The infection is the 20th case ever reported in the Lao PDR and is the first case in 103 days.

The 32-year-old Korean man tested positive for Covid-19 when he was on a 14-day compulsory quarantine at a hotel in Vientiane.

He is isolated and being treated at Mittaphab Hospital, Deputy Minister of Health Phouthone Meuangpak told a press conference on Friday.

Before traveling to the Lao PDR, he had no symptoms and was staying with his family where no other members ever tested positive for Covid-19 and he was tested for the virus using RT-PCR technique and the result was negative.

He traveled from Osaka, Japan and transited in Tokyo and Incheon, R. Korea. He arrived at Wattay International Airport on 18 July with Lao Airlines flight QV922A along with 4 friends. There were a total of 109 passengers onboard. Once arriving in Vientiane he was sent to a hotel designated as a quarantine hotel by the National Task Force Committee for Covid-19 Prevention and Control in a van also shared by other 5 people including driver.

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