Casinos in Banteay Meanchey Province were ordered to temporarily close on April 27 by provincial governor Oum Reatry after detecting 171 cases of Covid-19.

However, the decision did not specify when the casinos would reopen.

"The casino business in Banteay Meanchey province is temporarily closed until further notice," the decision stated.

Provincial administration director and spokesman Chhoeun Kraiyong said the suspension of the casino business in the province was issued after an outbreak of Covid-19 cases from casino players was detected.

"Seeing the outbreak, the provincial administration decided to suspend all casinos in Poipet town. We wouldn’t have closed them if it wasn’t related," said Kraiyong.

Roeun Sothy, deputy director of the provincial health department, said on April 23 that the health department found an Indonesian man suffering from pneumonia. Since then, the department has identified 171 Covid-19 cases as of April 27.