A woman wearing a face mask walks in front of the Institut Pasteur du Cambodge in Phnom Penh. Hong Menea
The Ministry of Health on December 5 recorded four new imported cases of Covid-19 and six more cases of local transmissions linked to the "November 28 community event".
And in a new development as part of preventive measures to contain the pandemic, Prime Minister Hun Sen said as he addressed the nation in a recorded message on December 4 that it was now necessary to identify Covid-19 patients.
In a press release, the ministry identified the first imported case as Eve Sokun, a 75-year-old Cambodian man living in Phsar Tmei commune in Phnom Penh's Daun Penh district. The man, who arrived in Cambodia from China on November 20, was confirmed Covid-19 positive after a second test on the 13th day of his quarantine.
The second case is Kaw Thikun, a 59-year-old American man residing in Daun Penh district's Phsar Tmei commune. The man arrived in Cambodia from China on November 20 and tested positive on the 13th day of his quarantine after a second test.
The third is Shawn Thach, a 42-year-old American man residing in Teuk Thla commune in Phnom Penh's Sen Sok district. He travelled on the same flight from China and also tested positive on the 13th day of his quarantine.
The three men are receiving treatment at the capital's Khmer-Soviet Friendship Hospital. They were travelling with 46 other passengers, all of whom tested negative and are being quarantined at the Hun Sen Borei 100 Khnong Secondary School and a hotel in Phnom Penh.
The fourth imported case is Oum Chandara, a 49-year-old American man residing in Phnom Penh. The man, who is receiving treatment at the Chak Angre Health Centre in Phnom Penh, arrived from the US via Taiwan on December 4 with 48 other passengers, all of whom tested negative and are being quarantined at two hotels in the capital.
Separately, the ministry said all the six new community transmission cases are staff members at the Pedro footwear and accessories store on Sihanouk Blvd in Phnom Penh. They were in contact with Lay Senglin, a 21-year-old woman who went shopping there and tested positive for Covid-19 on December 2.
One of the six is identified as Muy Sopheavy, a 22-year-old Cambodian woman residing at a rented house in Phnom Penh's Chhbar Ampov district.
The second is Yeak Chantha, a 28-year-old Cambodian woman living in Chhbar Ampov district's Chhbar Ampov I commune.
The third is Chheak Chanrath, a 20-year-old Cambodian man living in Tralouk Bek III commune in Phnom Penh's Tuol Kork district.
The fourth is Pho Dolla, a 24-year-old Cambodian woman residing in Tonle Bassac commune in the capital's Chamkarmon district.
The fifth is Khan Veha, a 23-year-old Cambodian man living in the capital's Sen Sok district.
The sixth is Kouch Davin, a 23-year-old Cambodian woman residing in Kambol commune in Phnom Penh's Kambol district.
One of the six is being treated at the Chak Angre Krom Health Centre while the rest have been admitted to the Khmer-Soviet Friendship Hospital in Phnom Penh.
The latest cases bring the total number of community transmissions to 29.
According to the ministry, from November 29 to December 3 the Institut Pasteur du Cambodge had tested a total of 10,147 samples from those involved in the November 28 community event, a reference to the first confirmed cases of community transmission.
Separately, the ministry reported one recovery case on December 5 – a 49-year-old Cambodian woman who arrived in Cambodia from the US via South Korea on November 16. She is identified as Kim Lim, a resident of Boeung Keng Kang III commune in Phnom Penh's Boeung Keng Kang district.
