The government has decided to allow foreign diplomatic officials to enter the country without having health insurance covering at least $50,000 or depositing $3,000, both requirements for foreign tourists. They will also receive free medical treatment if they test positive for Covid-19.

The decision was made during an inter-ministerial committee meeting on the fight against Covid-19 at the Ministry of Health on Monday.

Led by health minister Mam Bun Heng, the meeting was attended by the World Health Organisation (WHO) country director, ambassadors of 10 countries including the US, Australia and France, and representatives of diplomatic missions from 21 other countries.

Ministry secretary of state York Sambath confirmed that diplomatic officials would not be subject to the requirements imposed upon foreigners entering the country.

“In addition, we will not take them [diplomatic officials] to stay at a hotel. They will be able to quarantine at their embassy and their homes.

“But they must respect the health ministry’s prevention measures, one of which is not allowing travel during quarantine and until a second test is performed,” she told Fresh News.

The exemption for diplomatic officials came at the same time the ministry issued a notice requiring foreign tourists to deposit $3,000 when they enter Cambodia to cover the cost of testing, quarantining and travelling.

Minister of Economy and Finance Aun Pornmoniroth said in a June 8 letter that foreigners would be required to pay between $5 and $100 for services such as testing and medical treatment.

If a foreigner dies from the virus, $1,500, which includes related fees, would be collected for cremation services.

Since May 20, Cambodia has required all passengers travelling from abroad to be sent to health check facilities for testing. They then have to quarantine for 14 days as the country attempts to prevent a second wave of the virus.

Ministry spokesperson Or Vandine, finance ministry spokesperson Meas Soksensan and government spokesman Phay Siphan could not be reached for comment on Monday.

But Soksensan earlier told reporters that between $800 million to $2 billion had been reserved by the government to combat the Covid-19 pandemic.

The government has spent more than $1 billion on maintaining trade balances in sectors gravely affected by the pandemic and easing the burden of workers and vulnerable people.

It has also been working with other countries to repatriate respective citizens stranded amid the pandemic.

On Monday, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation noted that 115 of the 143 Cambodians stranded in Malaysia had returned along with 89 other passengers.

The ministry said some Cambodians chose to stay in Malaysia because they were returning to work or school.