Laos intensifies pandemic prevention in capital, Malaysia to give booster shots

COVID-19 testing in Vientiane, Laos. (Photo: VNA)

Hanoi (VNA) – Laos has completely locked downfour central districts in its capital city of Vientiane in a bid to curb the spread ofCOVID-19, while Malaysia has planned to offer booster shots of COVID-19vaccines to frontline forces and the elderly to increase their immunity.

The Lao Ministry of Health on September 19 confirmed 371new infections in the past 24 hours, including 303 found in the community. The number of cases in Vientianeaccounted for the lion’s share of the daily caseload, at 225.

Travel, except for those with permissions, is banned in thecapital’s locked-down areas. Vientiane is also intensifying its pandemicprevention measures, including 14-day quarantine for people from otherCOVID-19-hit localities and prohibition of traveling to localities with highlevel of pandemic situation.

Laos has so far logged 19,185 cases, including 16 deaths.

Meanwhile, Malaysia’s administration of the booster shots tohigh-risk groups such as frontliners, the immunocompromised and the elderlywith comorbidities will begin once the COVID-19 mass immunisation coverage hascovered 80 percent of the adult population nationwide, Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob said.

According to official statistics, as of September 18, 78.2percent of Malaysian adults completed their vaccinations.   

Also on September 18, 15,549 new cases brought the country’stally to 2,082,876 ca. A total of 324 newfatalities were recorded, raising the country's death toll to 23,067./.

VNA