More donated jabs land in Cambodia

A new batch of a China-donated COVID-19 vaccine arrived in the capital of Cambodia on Wednesday night.

Present at the Phnom Penh International Airport for the handover of the vaccine, from Sinopharm, were Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister and Defense Minister Tea Banh, Health Minister Mam Bunheng and Chinese Ambassador to Cambodia Wang Wentian.

Speaking at the event, Banh expressed his profound gratitude to China for providing the vaccine to Cambodia, saying it was crucial to combating the COVID-19 pandemic and protecting the lives of the Cambodian people.

He said it was the second batch of the Sinopharm vaccine that China had donated to Cambodia after the first batch which arrived in the kingdom on Feb 7.

“This is a new testament to the iron friendship and close cooperation between the two governments and peoples, and it will undoubtedly contribute to building a Cambodia-China community with a shared future.”

Ambassador Wang said the donation reflected China’s unwavering commitment to making its vaccines a global public good.

Cambodia has registered a total of 2,440 cases since the start of the pandemic, with 14 deaths.

In the latest effort to contain the virus, a two-week curfew from 8pm to 5am started on Thursday in the capital, a day after a sub-decree was issued by Prime Minister Hun Sen.

But traveling is still permitted for family emergency and medical services, cargo transport, firefighters, workers, and those allowed by the local authorities.