The Ministry of Health has instructed all provincial commissions for combating Covid-19 to ease the transport of goods, products and raw materials during the lockdown of eight provinces, all but one of which border Thailand.

In a notice dated July 30, health minister Mam Bun Heng explained that the government-imposed Covid-19 restrictions including the 9pm-3am curfew nationwide and lockdowns in the eight provinces should not hinder cross-border cargo transportation.

"The Inter-ministerial Committee to Combat Covid-19 wishes to remind municipal and provincial governors, who head the commissions, to ensure normal traffic of goods in order to avoid bottlenecks for imports of raw materials or inputs for exports from factories and enterprises in Cambodia, as well as other food products," he said.

Siem Reap and the seven provinces bordering Thailand – Koh Kong, Pursat, Battambang, Pailin, Banteay Meanchey, Oddar Meanchey, Preah Vihear – have been placed in a two-week lockdown through August 12.