Health ministry spokeswoman Or Vandine greets an old woman waiting for her third Covid vaccination in Tbong Khmum province in February. SUPPLIED
Ministry of Health spokeswoman Or Vandine and World Health Organisation (WHO) representative to Cambodia Li Ailan urged the public to keep their vaccinations up to date and adhere to preventive measures amid a surge of Covid-19 cases in the country.
Li recalled that by working together at the peak of the pandemic, people helped protect the healthcare system that eventually enabled a successful reopening of the country, while also warning of a recurrence.
“We are seeing an increase in Covid-19 cases lately. Get vaccinated with all the doses recommended to you. Make individual or family choices to reduce risks,” she tweeted on July 31.
Li said that a safe and smooth home recovery for persons with no or mild symptoms remains one of the important approaches to ensure sustained management of Covid-19 in the Kingdom.
“All my best wishes to my colleagues who tested positive. Wishing you a full recovery! Health First!,” she added.
Vandine, who is also head of the National Covid-19 vaccination committee, said on July 30 that complacency provided a window of opportunity for the coronavirus to circulate in the community.
“Continue to strictly implement the three do’s and don’ts and get your booster doses to prevent a surge of Covid-19 infections,” she urged.
Health minister Mam Bun Heng, who is also head of the Inter-ministerial Committee to Combat Covid-19, advised that all municipal and provincial governors increase education and share the standard operating procedures (SOP) for home recovery with the public.
“We issued these instructions to people who return a positive rapid test but have mild symptoms and choose to treat themselves at home. The ministry wants these guidelines shared more widely,” he said.
Kampong Speu provincial governor Vei Samnang said on July 31 that though the province was yet to see a recurrence, authorities would continue to ensure adherence to preventive measures.
“We still maintain these measures and urge the public to get vaccinated against Covid-19. We are also informing people about how best to treat themselves at home,” he said.
Samnang added that he and provincial officials had also disseminated information about monkeypox protection regularly.
According to the SOP for home Covid-19 treatment, if patients are asymptomatic or have only minor symptoms such as coughing, runny nose, sore throat, short breath and a fever of 37.5 degree Celsius or less, they do not need medication.
They should get a follow-up health check once they test negative, it added.
The ministry also said people aged 60 and older can face severe Covid-19 risks, as can those with a chronic condition such as high blood pressure, diabetes, heart disease, chronic lung disease or a weakened immune system.
Pregnant women and the overweight are also at increased risk, it said.
