The Phnom Penh Municipal Hall and several provincial administrations have begun re-implementing measures to restrict gatherings in an effort to stem the rapid spread of the Omicron coronavirus variant, which has pushed daily cases above 200 for the last two days.

In Phnom Penh, governor Khuong Sreng issued a directive on February 10 ordering the 14 district administrations and relevant authorities to strengthen health measures to avert what he called “the tragedy of serious spread [of Omicron] in the community on a large scale”.

Sreng said the developing spread of Omicron within the community has been worrying, noting that an increasing number of residents have been negligent in practicing health measures such as mask wearing, social distancing and hand sanitisation.

There has also been continued gathering of large crowds at events such as weddings, as well as restaurants, markets, factories, and entertainment venues, he added.

Sreng advised stakeholders to conduct educational campaigns in various forms to remind patrons to adhere to health measures. He suggested, for instance, that market managers and committees broadcast through public address systems to warn traders and patrons to disperse when a crowd was forming.

“For crowded places such as weddings, restaurants, festivals, entertainment venues and other gatherings, it is advisable to set up seating with safe distancing, including no more than seven people per table,” he said.

The governor also instructed staff at venues around the capital to check the vaccination cards of every person wishing to enter the premises, and deny entry to those who either had their last vaccination more than 4 months ago or not taken their booster doses without a valid reason.

“In the event that a person is found not to have complied with the contents of this instruction and to have violated health measures to prevent the spread of Covid-19, that person will face a fine in accordance with the law and regulations,” he said.

The municipal hall stressed that it was a personal responsibility to be vaccinated against Covid-19 and contribute to strong herd immunity, and to prevent public health disasters that would affect the economy as well as impact upon one’s own family.

In Kampong Speu province, governor Vei Samnang also issued urgent instructions to officials on February 9 to reduce gatherings in the communes – especially for consumption of alcohol and entertainment – in order to prevent and curb the spread of Covid-19 in the community.

In Siem Reap, the Kingdom’s most popular tourist destination, provincial Department of Health director Kros Sarath told The Post that authorities were set to enforce preventive measures though there had yet to be an Omicron community case in the province.

He said that the rise in community transmission of the virus in other parts of the Kingdom means it would be a matter of time before it reaches Siem Reap, and that he was working with authorities to strengthen protection measures and promote advice for people to get Covid-19 jabs or booster shots.

“We are still implementing [the] ‘three dos and three don’ts’ measure because it has proven effective since the beginning of the pandemic. We have also educated [the public] and disseminated a lot of information. It is important that we implement [health measures] from all sides,” he said.

Cambodia logged 262 new cases of Omicron on February 10 – 226 in the community and 36 from abroad.