Since early July 2021, there has been an increase in the number of migrant workers from Lao People’s Democratic Republic returning from neighboring countries. As of 4 October, Savannakhet Province had reported a cumulative total of 5,220 cases among returnees, a sizeable proportion of the 13,800 cases reported nationwide.
The majority of the returnees have travelled back through Savanhnakhet’s Second Thai–Lao Friendship Bridge and arrived in Kaisone City, a common entry point for returnees coming back from Thailand.
Temporary quarantine centers at sports centres, factories and schools have been staffed by frontline workers such as healthcare workers, police officers, military personnel, medical students and volunteers. Returning workers who test positive and have mild symptoms or asymptomatic are housed in isolation facilities, while those who test negative go to quarantine centres. They may return home after 14 days when they test negative.
Ensuring that frontline workers and returnees are protected from COVID-19 remains a priority for the province, the provincial authorities worked with several government ministries, the World Health Organization and partners including the European Union to ensure that strict public health and social measures were adhered to.
A typical day at a quarantine centre in Kaisone City
Dr Phetlamphone Khamphidok is an epidemiologist from Kaisone City Health Office and assigned to work at the Sanamxay quarantine centre. Her role is to monitor the health of the returnees and provide health education on symptoms, transmission and the protective measures to be followed at the quarantine centre.
The quarantine center is divided into different zones, with each zone categorized by the arrival date of returnees. Every morning, Dr Khamphidok and her team checks the temperature of the returnees and monitors them for symptoms.
Dr. Khamphidok and her team member put on protective gear to perform their routine tasks.
Migrant workers arriving at one of the quarantine centre in Kaisone City.
A staff member at the quarantine centre uses a megaphone to advise returnees to follow physical distancing and other preventive measures.
A health staff member monitors new arrivals at the quarantine centre.
At the quarantine facility, a health staff member performs a COVID-19 test on a returnee at the first day of arrival.
Temperature checks are done twice a day, usually when the returnees collect their meals.
Food assistance is supported by donors and partners at government-run quarantine centres.
When Dr Khamphidok is asked if she worries about working in a high-risk area like this, she answered, “Yes, there are some concerns but we do our best to prepare ourselves with the personal protective equipment and follow the infection prevention and control measures when we interacted with the returnees.”
Dr Khamphidok discussed health promotion messages on preventive measures, mental health and dealing with stigma and discrimination with the central team.
Besides providing health education messages, they talked to the returnees to check on their mental health. Dr Khamphidok shared a story about a pregnant migrant worker who delivered her baby at the centre. She was pleased that the baby was delivered safely, and the mother returned to the quarantine centre after completing her checks at a nearby hospital.
“Given the current challenging COVID-19 situation in Lao PDR, the EU is very proud to work alongside with the government, WHO, and other partners to provide emergency support to hospitals, isolations facilities and quarantine centers. This is part of Team Europe’s global response to the COVID-19 pandemic worldwide, because no one is safe until everyone is safe,” said Ms Ina Marčiulionytė, EU Ambassador to Lao PDR.
“WHO is pleased to work with partners like the European Union to support the Government of Lao People’s Democratic Republic to accommodate returning migrant workers to the country. Ensuring that returning migrant workers can quarantine safely is a priority to protect these vulnerable communities,” Dr Jun Gao, WHO Officer-in-Charge Lao PDR.