VIENTIANE, July 21 (Xinhua) -- The Lao Ministry of Health is advising members of the public to be extra vigilant about complying with COVID-19 prevention measures as a new wave of Omicron takes hold in Thailand and other neighboring countries.
Even though infection rates continue to be low, everyone should closely follow COVID-19 prevention measures, especially by wearing a face mask in crowded places and when talking to strangers, according to a report by the Center of Information and Education for Health under the Lao Ministry of Health on Wednesday.
It is also important to wash hands frequently to prevent infection after touching contaminated objects, as well as staying two meters apart from other people.
Most importantly, everyone should get a COVID-19 booster shot to build herd immunity in the population as a whole, according to the report.
As of Wednesday, 46 new infections were reported in Laos.
A total of 210,638 cases of COVID-19 have been recorded countrywide since the start of the pandemic, resulting in 662 deaths.
Laos reported its first two confirmed COVID-19 cases on March 24, 2020. ■