Hanoi (VNA) – The Thai Government is keeping an eyeon a recent influx of people from Cambodia into its eastern border province ofSa Kaeo amid concern that many of them may be infected with COVID-19, whileLaos plans to step up the screening of all people entering the country.

Thailand’s Centre for COVID-19 Situation Administration(CCSA) on June 1 discussed the situation in Sa Kaeo where up to 1,000 peoplehave crossed the border from Cambodia via official checkpoints. At least 10 percent ofthem are believed to be infected, said CCSA spokesman Taweesilp Visanuyothinsaid.

Thailand recorded 2,230 new cases and 38 fatalities from thevirus on June 2, pushing the national tally and death toll to 165,462 and 1,107.

The country plans to start a mass vaccination campaign on June 7 with the aim of having 70 percent of its population get at least one shot by the end of September.

In Laos, the screening of new arrivals, includingspecialists and foreigners employed in development projects, is aimed atensuring that the group is tested for COVID-19 and undergo quarantine, aftermany of the new cases of the virus were found among people arriving from othercountries.

Local daily Vientiane Times on June 2 quoted Deputy DirectorGeneral of the Immigration Police Department under the Ministry of PublicSecurity, Phetdavong Keokanya, as saying that the department was carrying outstrict checks on any entries and exits, both at land borders and airports.

All Lao nationals wishing to return to the country shouldenter at official border crossings, with local authorities and soldiers instructedto join hands in border patrol to prevent people entering Laos illegally.       

As of June 1, Laos confirmed 1,929 cases of COVID-19 withthree deaths./.