VIENTIANE, May 22 (Xinhua) -- Local authorities across the country continue to closely monitor people entering Laos to prevent and control the spread of COVID-19.

Deputy Director General of the Department of Communicable Disease Control under the Lao Ministry of Health Latsamy Vongkhamsao, told a press conference in the Lao capital Vientiane on Saturday that 2,761 people entered Laos through international border checkpoints on Friday.

The temperature of each person was checked before being sent to quarantine center for 14 days.

The National Taskforce Committee for COVID-19 Prevention and Control said it has been monitoring 3,173 people across the country over COVID-19 concerns.

The Lao government has advised people and relevant authorities not to neglect containment and preventive measures.

As of Saturday, the total number of COVID-19 confirmed cases in Laos is 1,782 and 1,025 patients have recovered.

Laos reported its first two confirmed COVID-19 cases on March 24 last year.