52 Nghe An citizens who violated the Lao Government's quarantine regulations have been given favorable conditions to return home.

Regarding the information that 56 Vietnamese citizens, including 52 Nghe An citizens from Laos were allowed to return home through the Namphao-Cau Treo border gate on April 24, which the community is interested in, the Vietnamese Embassy in Laos has just issued a notice explaining and recommending that Vietnamese people in Laos continue to follow the regulations on disease prevention.Covid-19 epidemicof the Lao Government.

Accordingly, due to not understanding the Lao government's regulations on closing international border gates from April 3, 27 Vietnamese citizens from Nghe An who were working in Laos went to Namphao border gate to request to leave the country. Lao authorities refused to complete exit procedures and sent these people to centralized quarantine in Laksao town, Khamkeud district, Bolikhamxay province, about 30km from Namphao border gate.

During the quarantine period of the above mentioned people, the Vietnamese Consulate General in Savannakhet sent staff to visit, support some necessities for the people, and explain the Lao Government's regulations on border closure. The people were aware and promised to comply with the quarantine. However, they still expressed their wish to return home due to financial difficulties and living conditions in the quarantine area.

By April 24, the number of Vietnamese citizens who had done the same had increased to 56, including 52 from Nghe An, 2 from Ha Tinh and 2 from Thanh Hoa. All were quarantined at a single location. Among them were the elderly and pregnant women.

Although the arbitrary entry of Vietnamese citizens to the border gate is a violation of Directive 06/TTg of the Lao Prime Minister on epidemic prevention, in the spirit of humanity, the authorities of the two provinces of Bolikhamxay and Ha Tinh have agreed to allow these 56 citizens to return to Vietnam through the international border gate pair Namphao - Cau Treo to continue quarantine on the Vietnamese side. This does not mean that the Lao authorities allow the border gate to reopen for individual entry and exit.

Therefore, the Vietnamese Embassy in Laos recommends that Vietnamese citizens working and living in Laos continue to strictly comply with Directive 06/TTg of the Lao Prime Minister issued on March 29, 2020 and regulations of Lao localities on Covid-19 prevention and control, do not arbitrarily leave their place of residence or go to border gates to find a way to exit to Vietnam; promptly inform and exchange with the Embassy and Consulates General of Vietnam in Laos to update official information on the Covid-19 epidemic in Laos and to receive guidance and support when necessary.

When the Lao government changes or adjusts regulations related to the entry and exit of Vietnamese citizens, the Embassy and Consulates General will promptly notify the community.