New Covid cases found; gov’t set to buy vaccines
THE Ministry of Health has confirmed two more Covid-19 cases linked to the ‘November 28 community event’, bringing the total local transmission cases to 32.
Meanwhile, more than 10,000 people, including all Ministry of Interior officials, will be retested on December 7-8.
The two new positive cases were Y Dara, a 21-year-old man living near Wat Sansam Kosal in Phnom Penh’s Boeung Tompun commune, and Chi Pich Chhara, a 29 yearold woman who lives in Chak Angre Leu commune of the capital’s Meanchy district.
Dara is the housemate of Nhel Sok Kola, a staff member at Pedro footwear and accessories store on Sihanouk Blvd who has tested positive.
Pich Chhara is an interior ministry official and visited Zando fashion store in Boeung Keng Kang district on November 27.
The health ministry said on December 7 that from November 29 to December 6, it had tested 11,305 samples. It called on civil servants who had been in contact with affected individuals to take a second test at the interior ministry.
The National Olympic Stadium has also been prepared for testing for members of the public who were exposed during last week’s
community transmission. There are also testing facilities set up at health departments around the country.
Minister of Interior Sar Kheng ordered all secretaries of state, deputy secretaries and department directors to instruct their subordinates to be screened for Covid-19, including those who were already tested in late November.
“To clear all suspicion, health ministry officials must take samples from all people working at the interior ministry,” Sar Kheng said.
Sar Kheng also issued a directive to temporarily block entry to the interior ministry compound for civil servants, national police officials and prison officials from December 7 onward until further notice.
In the interim, he said, all officials and ministry staff must strictly adhere to quarantine protocols for 14 days, in accordance with instructions from the health ministry. They must, however, continue work from home.
Health ministry spokeswoman Or Vandine said on December 7 that paper money might harbour the coronavirus if bills were handled infected people who had not followed sanitation guidelines.
“Covid-19 could potentially remain on bank notes, glass and other surfaces for up to 28 days, compared to common cold viruses which could survive for 17 days. This is according to a statement by an Australian researcher published on October 12, 2020,” she said.
On December 6, Hun Sen wrote on Facebook that he had heard exaggerated rumours which claimed that a state of emergency would be announced for the whole country or at least Phnom Penh.
The rumour-mongers, he said, also urged people to stockpile food and other supplies.
“In the face of these unfounded statements, as the leader of the government, I confirm to the public that there will be no announcement of a state of emergency for the country, in whole or in part. There will be no order to close Phnom Penh as some irresponsible people have alleged,” he said.
Hun Sen called on the public to stay calm and not panic. Instead, people should join the government’s efforts to fight Covid-19 by following the health ministry’s guidance, he said.
The Prime Minister took to Facebook again late in the evening on December 7 to announce that he was preparing to purchase Covid-19 vaccines to be distributed to Cambodian people free of charge. A million doses of the vaccine would initially be made available for people working in high-risk environments and the infirm.
“This evening, I authorised the Minister of Health, Mam Bun Heng, to discuss with our development partners, and the World Health Organisation in particular, to determine from which country we should buy the vaccines.
“I have also advised the Minister of Economy and Finance, Aun Pornmoniroth, to prepare a budget for the purchase of one million doses in the first phase,” Hun Sen wrote.
He noted that one million doses would affect only 500,000 people because each person would need to be injected twice. Of Cambodia’s 16 million people, perhaps 10 million would need to be vaccinated.
He added that, following initial procurements, the finance minister would prepare a subsequent budget for the purchase two to three million vaccine doses in the next phase.
“If the situation arises that our country is short of funds to buy more, I have advised these two ministers to discuss with our bilateral and multilateral development partners to seek additional assistance for our people,” Hun Sen said.