Laos records 547 new Covid-19 cases, three new fatalities

Some 547 new Covid-19 cases and three new deaths have been recorded nationwide over the past 24 hours, bringing the total to 106,778 including 328 deaths, according to National Taskforce Committee for Covid-19 Prevention and Control.

Director General of the Department of Communicable Diseases Control, Ministry of Health Dr Rattanaxay Phetsouvanh told a press conference today that the new infections included 204 cases reported in Vientiane, 93 in Luang Prabang, 75 in Saravan, and 30 in Bokeo.

Meanwhile, 26 cases were reported in Luang Prabang, 20 in Vientiane (province), 16 in Champassak, 13 in Khammuan and 12 each in Oudomxay and Savannakhet.

Over 1.27 million doses of Covid-19 vaccine donated through COVAX Facility by France, Japan, Greek and the Netherlands arrived in Vientiane last week, Dec 23.

The vaccine package included 192,000 doses of AstraZeneca from France, 320,200 doses of AstraZeneca from Japan, 320,400 doses of Johnson & Johnson from Greek, and 460,800 does of Johnson & Johnson from the Netherlands.

Source: Lao News Agency

Blood donation falls almost 10% behind target

So far this year, 57,979 units of blood have been donated nationwide, falling behind the target of 64,000 units by almost 10%, according to the National Blood Centre.

The donated blood included 26,498 units donated in Vientiane and 31,481 units donated in provinces across the country.

The shortfall in blood donation was attributed to prolonged Covid-19 outbreak as the pandemic has forced schools and public offices to close and restricted travel.

Blood is needed, mostly for women experiencing postnatal blood loss, children suffering from anaemia, malaria, dengue fever and malnutrition as well as people with abnormal immunity, experiencing accidents and surgeries.

Under the theme “Give Blood and Keep the World Breathing”, blood centres across the country have an ambitious plan to have 68,000 units of blood donated nationwide next year.

Individuals aged between 17-60 years old, weighing at least 45 kg and healthy are highly encouraged to donate blood at blood centres across the country everyday from 8.30-16.00 hrs.

Source: Lao News Agency

Japan approves additional US$1.5 million for Thakhek water supply development

The Japanese government has approved an additional funding to procure water pipes, equipment, vehicles and machinery worth 11.7 billion kip (US$1.5 million) for the Thakhek water supply development project in Khammuan.

The basic infrastructure development project is a joint effort of the Japanese government and its Lao counterpart.

Some water pipes, equipment, vehicles and machinery have been procured and delivered to Khammuan. However, all equipment and materials needed for the waterworks project are expected to arrive in the central province by the end of this month.

On Dec 22, Deputy Chief Resident Representative of Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) to the Lao PDR Yasuyu Sato discussed the implementation of the development project with Vice Governor of Khammuan Province Somsa-at Ounsida, Director of the Khammuan Provincial Department of Public Works and Transport Phissamai Kongsadeth, and Director of the Khammouane Water Supply State Enterprise Khanngeun Sengiam.

Source: Lao News Agency

Transport providers urged to tighten hygienic measures during New Year celebration

Department of Communicable Disease Control, Ministry of Health has urged transport providers to tighten hygienic measures against Covid-19 during the celebration of International New Year.

Director General of the department Dr Rattanaxay Phetsouvanh said today that such measures need to be tightened to ensure the safety of passengers who will flock to public transport hubs for their home trips during the celebration of New Year.

“To ensure the safety of passengers, transport operators should frequently clean equipment and surfaces commonly touched by people such as counters, ticket counters, waiting areas, and arrange hand washing facilities with soaps or hand gels and observe social distancing,” Dr Rattanaxay said.

Some 547 new Covid-19 cases and three new deaths have been recorded nationwide over the past 24 hours, bringing the total to 106,778 including 328 deaths, according to National Taskforce Committee for Covid-19 Prevention and Control.

Director General of the Department of Communicable Diseases Control, Ministry of Health Dr Rattanaxay Phetsouvanh told a press conference today that the new infections included 204 cases reported in Vientiane, 93 in Luang Prabang, 75 in Saravan, and 30 in Bokeo.

Source: Lao News Agency

DPRK’s Meaning of Self-Defence 2021

Last October, in Pyongyang, the capital of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, the Defence Development Exhibition, named Self-Defence 2021, opened in the presence of Kim Jong Un, President of the State Affairs.

What did the exhibition that attracted the attentions of the world’s military experts and media organs show?

Eye-Opening Development

The military hardware on display struck the visitors with wonder.

What was most wonderful was their advanced and modernized level.

All the weapons such as various small arms and soldier’s personal gear, tanks of a new generation, armour-piercing weapons, self-propelled gun howitzers, super-large multiple launch system, various electronic weapons, drones, means of reconnaissance, submarine- and land-launched ballistic missiles of the Pukguksong series, medium ranged and intercontinental ballistic missiles of the Hwasongpho series and anti-aircraft missile systems were of world level.

Especially, the new-type gigantic missile carried on an 11-axle transporter-erector-launcher vehicle displayed during the military parade, held in October last year to mark the 75th founding anniversary of the Workers’ Party of Korea, fully demonstrated the ultra-modernity and striking capability of the country’s strategic forces.

In other words, it showed that the military hardware equipped by the Korean People’s Army are the source of the irreversible strategic power and war deterrent, which could cope with any opponent and war.

The period and speed of their upgrading were also amazing.

The displayed military hardware were all developed and produced over the past five years, demonstrating their rapid upgrading period and speed.

As the world already observed, the DPRK successfully test-fired ground-to-ground IRBM Hwasong-10 at the first launch, and only one year later, successfully test-fired ground-to-ground IRBM Hwasong-12, whose tactical and technical specifications and technical features had been remarkably improved.

Two months later, new-type ICBM Hwasong-14 was successfully test-fired, followed by ICBM Hwasong-14, test-fired by simulating its maximum firing range, over 20 days later.

In November 2017 new-type ICBM Hwasong-15, whose tactical and technical specifications and technical features were far superior to Hwasong-14 was successfully test-fired.

What was more surprising was the fact that all the military hardware were developed and their serial production was achieved by the country’s own efforts and technology.

Historically, the Korean people suffered trials as a result of being invaded by foreign forces, and it has had to build socialism under a constant threat from hostile forces, from last century to this. For this reason, they have regarded strengthening their country’s military capability as an essential and vital affair of state which must not be neglected for even a moment and consistently maintained the line of self-reliance in national defence.

The examples are the line of giving equal importance to the building of the economy and the national defences put forward in the early 1960s and the line of simultaneously conducting economic construction.

All the military hardware displayed in the exhibition hall were a brilliant fruition borne of the line of self-reliance in national defence which the country has consistently maintained, of the solid foundations of the munitions industry laid for more than 70 years after its founding and of the efforts made by the large contingent of promising scientists in the defence science sector, who carry out the intentions of Workers’ Party of Korea unfailingly.

Source: Lao News Agency

Laos records 1,341 new Covid-19 cases, four new deaths

Some 1,341 new Covid-19 cases and four new deaths have been reported nationwide over the previous 24 hours, bringing the total to 101,865 including 11,833 active cases and 288 deaths, according to the National Taskforce Committee for Covid-19 Prevention and Control.

Director General of the Department of Communicable Diseases Control, Ministry of Health Dr Rattanaxay Phetsouvanh told a press conference today that the new infections were detected among 4,844 people tested for Covid-19.

Of the new cases, 640 were recorded in Vientiane, 201 in Bokeo, 111 in Oudomxay, 74 in Luang Prabang, 71 in Luang Namtha, 60 in Phongsaly, 28 in Savannakhet, 26 in Vientiane (province), 22 in Borikhamxay and 20 in Champassak.

Yesterday witnessed some 520 Covid-19 patients discharged from hospitals across the country.

Source: Lao News Agency