Covid-19 situation in Cambodia alarming but no emergency declared

PHNOM PENH: Cambodia is at a high risk of a Covid-19 outbreak with the pandemic situation in the country being described as alarming.

Prime Minister Hun Sen, however, said that he would not declare a state of emergency and called on the people to constantly adhere to health safety measures.

He said this in a voice message after a Cambodian bodyguard, who safeguarded Hungarian Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Peter Szijjarto, tested positive for the virus on Saturday.

All those who had direct contact with Szijjarto, especially through handshakes, are in quarantine including Hun Sen.

“I won’t declare a state of emergency, either partly or for the whole country.

“I regard this matter as a severe problem for Phnom Penh and I ask the Phnom Penh authority, the health sector, ministries, institutions and media covering Szijjarto to quarantine their staff. If not, the risk is very high for our country,” Hun Sen said.

He called on them to protect themselves and others while waiting for the result of their Covid-19 tests in two weeks.

Szijjarto tested positive for the coronavirus after arriving in Bangkok from Cambodia last week.

The Health Ministry said 892 people were found to have come in contact with the Hungarian delegation and they will be tested three more times.

The Phnom Penh Post reports that following the prime minister’s call, the ministry and the Phnom Penh Municipal Hall have decided to use the Sokha Phnom Penh Hotel & Residence in the capital as a quarantine centre.

They said those who had direct or indirect contact with Szijjarto must be quarantined for 14 days at the hotel.

The ministry has also ordered temporary closures of KTV, nightclubs, cinemas, and museums across the country.

Minister of Education, Youth and Sports Hang Chuon Naron has also announced that all schools in Phnom Penh and Kandal province would be closed for two weeks to prevent the spread of Covid-19.

Naron said the closures were due to a lack of information and cooperation from parents and guardians who were in direct and indirect contact with the Hungarian delegation.

He said there were 900 parents and caretakers of students who had such contact with the Hungarian delegation.

Up to Nov 8, Cambodia had reported 295 cases with 288 treated and discharged from hospitals.