Access to the site has again been restricted for a period of 15 days from March 11-25 in an attempt to prevent the spread of Covid-19.

A notice issued by the Golden Triangle Special Economic Zone on Tuesday said people living outside the zone would not be allowed to cross into the zone during this 15 day period. People inside the zone may exit the area but will not be allowed to return within 15 days. Meanwhile, staff employed at the special economic zone and associated officials will carry out their duties as normal.

A senior official from the Administration Office in Tonpheung district told Vientiane Times this was the third restriction on entry to the zone following similar controls put in place from February 9-25 and from February 26-March 10.

According to the Department of Communicable Disease Control under the Ministry of Health, Luang Namtha, Bokeo and Phongsaly provinces, which share a border with China, have been supplied with equipment and personnel to conduct checks of people crossing the border in either direction.

There is so far no confirmed case of the coronavirus in Laos, according to the health ministry. To prevent the virus from spreading into Laos, health authorities have intensified surveillance and tightened up scanning at ports of entry. Diagnostic equipment has been installed in provinces at greatest risk so that health authorities can promptly diagnose the presence of the virus. Monitoring and quarantine measures are being imposed on travellers who have had close contact with infected persons, as well as people entering Laos from outbreak countries.

If you have a travel history to an outbreak area and develop symptoms after entering Laos, please call +856 20 5406 6777 to speak to a duty officer in Lao or English, at any time of the day or night. For more information, call the free hotline number 166 at any time.