The Phnom Penh Commission to Combat Covid-19, led by the capital's municipal administration, issued a directive telling former workers of NagaWorld integrated resort to immediately halt protests, and ordering them to practice coronavirus health measures to prevent the pathogen from spreading among them and their families.

According to the February 4 directive, municipal authorities will take legal action against any individual in breach of Covid health and administrative measures.

The directive referenced a statement by the Ministry of Health issued earlier in the day concerning a pregnant demonstrator found positive for the Omicron variant, and instructing protesters to take Covid tests at a designated site on Koh Pich Island within three days.

The directive said that protester representative Choup Channat had requested medical specialists take samples for Covid tests at the rally, but that protesters were uncooperative when personnel arrived at the scene.

“To prevent the protest from triggering a large-scale spread of the Omicron Covid-19 variant – or other versions of the pathogen – among the community, the [commission] requires the protests to stop immediately, and demonstrators must follow health measures until a point where it can be assured that there were no Covid-19 transmissions among protesters.

“Should protesters be defiant and continue to assemble for rallies, which could be a catalyst for a community outbreak of Covid-19, the individuals causing trouble – by not following the health and administrative measures – will be legally responsible according to the Covid-19 laws, liable to fines or imprisonment. No excuses,” it said.

The commission said it hopes that the protesters will cooperate, for the sake of their lives and those of their families, and the sustainability of "life in the new normal", especially to prevent a catastrophe that could be brought about by a community outbreak.