Police raided a nightclub in Kampong Speu province on December 27 for violating the Ministry of Health’s safety guidelines intended to prevent the spread of Covid-19. Police
Chbar Mon town police in Kampong Speu province on December 28 released 42 people after detaining them the previous night for violating the Ministry of Health’s safety guidelines intended to prevent the spread of Covid-19.
Chbar Mon town police chief Ouch Heang said they flouted the ministry’s guidelines and ignored rules put in place for the benefit of their own safety by gathering indoors at a nightclub for a night of revelry.
Of the 42 people, 11 were found to be under the influence of illegal drugs when the urine samples they provided were tested. All of them, including those with positive drug tests, were released after signing a letter promising not to repeat their offence.
Heang said the nightclub was divided into two parts, with the front section used as a restaurant and the back area as a bar.
After examining the site, the police determined that the club had violated the health ministry’s safety standards and restrictions regarding the operation of entertainment venues.
In the interests of public safety and health, police decided to temporarily shut down the bar portion of the business until further notice.
“We will permit the restaurant to operate normally, but they still need to follow the health ministry’s social distancing guidelines,” he said.
The club owner, Hean Leang Heng, said on December 28 that he had signed a contract agreeing to temporarily close the bar.
Leang Heng said he had made sure people practiced good hygiene and social distancing both at the bar and the restaurant.
“Now, I agreed to close the bar, but I can’t close the restaurant because I need it to generate profits to pay off some bank debts,” he said, adding that since the outbreak of Covid-19, his profits had dropped sharply, making it difficult to even meet payroll for his employees.
Ministry spokeswoman Or Vandine said on December 28 that even though there had not been any new cases of Covid-19 community transmission in the last few days, everyone must stay on their guard because any carelessness could lead to an outbreak.
“The violation of safety measures by an individual puts that person at risk, but it also puts their families and anyone they happen to come in contact with at risk if they are unaware they have become infected.
“We protect everyone in our society by protecting ourselves,” she said.
