The Ministry of Health confirmed another 408 cases of the coronavirus Delta variant in just two days – 156 on September 8 and 252 on September 9.

The latest cases have brought the total to 3,731 since the first was recorded on March 31.

According to the ministry, Delta has now spread to the capital and 23 provinces, with Kep province being the lone holdout that has yet to find a single case.

Phnom Penh has detected the most cases at 1,256, followed by Banteay Meanchey province at 827; Oddar Meanchey at 287; Siem Reap at 231; Kandal at 159; Preah Vihear at 148; Stung Treng at 138; Tbong Khmum at 124; and Battambang at 106.

Delta has been found on a wide cross-section of Cambodians including people who have had no known contacts with inbound airline passengers or anyone who was recently abroad such as migrant workers, indicating that community transmission is already taking place.

Health minister Mam Bun Heng reiterated his call for the public to maintain vigilance and protect themselves even if they are fully vaccinated because breakthrough cases can occur – though they are typically mild in nature compared to the severity of the disease in unvaccinated patients.