A health worker collects a nasal swab sample for a coronavirus test in Phnom Penh. Hong Menea
Prime Minister Hun Sen said that while he is proud of the Kingdom’s efforts to control Covid-19, he wants people to remain vigilant and keep their vaccination up to date as the coronavirus is still circulating.
Addressing a graduation ceremony for students of the Institute of Technology of Cambodia (ITC) on March 1, the premier said he was concerned that some nations have relaxed cautionary measures, and even gone so far as to describe the virus as no more than a common cold.
“We will not let our guard down by thinking of Covid-19 as a common cold, as some countries have done.
“We must remain vigilant. We have not imposed mask requirements, but we encourage people to wear masks in crowded areas. We are yet to abandon preventative measures,” he said.
Hun Sen explained that if the government considered Covid-19 no more than a common cold, there would be no reason to call on people to get booster inoculations against it.
“Hence, I am making it clear that regardless of what some other countries may say, Covid-19 is much more serious than a common cold. The head of the national Covid-19 vaccination committee, Or Vandine, is continuing her efforts to administer vaccines to the people,” he said.
He also hinted that a European country had asked to provide Covid-19 vaccines to Cambodia, but that he has declined and instructed Minister of Health to just thank the nation, which he did not name, for the offer as the Kingdom has an ample supply of vaccines.
“Cambodia still has more than enough vaccines for the needs of its people,” he said.
“Around six million doses remain in warehouses throughout the Kingdom, while another 20 million are on their way. We thank our foreign friends for helping Cambodia and her people to navigate the difficult times of the pandemic,” he added.
According to the Ministry of Health, 95.47 per cent of the Kingdom’s estimated population of 16 million had received vaccinations against Covid-19 as of February 28. Among them, more than 10.5 million have received three doses, over five million their fourth, over 1.7 million their fifth, and nearly 300,000 their sixth.
As of March 1, Cambodia had recorded a total of 138,717 confirmed cases of Covid-19, with 135,656 recoveries and 3,056 deaths. A total of 21,244 cases were imported from abroad and 16, 889 community Omicron cases were recorded.
