Cambodian migrant workers under quarantine in Battambang province last month. Battambang Administration
The government has issued a revision to sub-decree No 129 regarding pandemic control policies at border checkpoints.
The revision increases the fines for those who escape from quarantine and those who help plan or assist with escapes. The revised sub-decree increases the fine for the violator to between one million and 50 million riel (around $250 and $12,300).
A separate sub-decree specifically related to Covid-19 was also issued, stipulating that the fine for quarantine escapee will be from one to five million riel.
The revised sub-decree No 129, signed by Prime Minister Hun Sen, amended provisions related to fines in Article 8.
Article 8 now states: “Individuals who instigate, lead, instruct, incite, persuade or willingly assist passengers or accompany them to evade an inspection or escape from quarantine requirements have to pay a fine of 10 million to 50 million riel.”
The sub-decree stipulated that the fine will be decided by the Ministry of Health. In cases where the violator refuses to pay the fine or fails to pay it within 30 days from the date the ministry makes its decision, the cases must then be forwarded to court.
Ministry of Justice spokesman Kim Santepheap told The Post on February 18 that the strengthening of health measures was to ensure that the general public understand the seriousness of the quarantine requirements so they can assist in preventing Covid-19 transmission.
The separate sub-decree related specifically to Covid-19 consists of seven chapters and 23 articles. It sets out regulations relating to quarantines in order to protect the health of the public and to avoid socio-economic impacts.
Chapter 5 of the sub-decree states: “Any individual who avoids or attempts to skip or escapes from quarantine will be fined between one and five million riel.”
Those who are in quarantine and do not cooperate with health officials by submitting to testing for Covid-19 must be fined from one to five million riel. This fine does not exempt them from having their sample taken for Covid-19 test by health officials.
The chapter said those who initiate, lead, instruct, incite, persuade or intentionally help people under quarantine to escape will pay fines of 10 to 50 million riel.
These same fines will also be imposed on all private medical establishments that hide or fail to urgently inform the health ministry when treating patients at their establishments who are suspected of escaping from quarantine. For repeat offenders, the fines will be doubled.
Separately, health ministry spokeswoman Or Vandine dismissed as fake news reports that a teacher at Snuol Junior High School in Kratie province had died after having been vaccinated against Covid-19 with the Sinopharm vaccine donated by China.
Vandine said the teacher, Chhorn Nary, had actually died from severe meningitis unrelated to vaccination and unfortunately, the doctors treating her were unable to save her life.
“The ministry would like to request that the relevant authorities take legal action against those who fabricate this kind of information. I would also like to point out that the Covid-19 vaccine has not yet been provided to any teachers,” she said.
Uon Kimyon, the mother of the deceased 21-year-old teacher, also denied that her daughter had died from the Sinopharm vaccine.
“My daughter was ill with severe meningitis. I took her to the hospital, but she could not be saved. I have asked the police and the authorities to take legal action against those who violated my daughter’s dignity by spreading false news about her death,” she said.
The health ministry said that from February 10-17, a total of 3,236 volunteers had been vaccinated against Covid-19. The Ministry of National Defence reported that during the same period, a total of 10,045 military personnel had also been vaccinated.
On February 18, Hun Sen also announced the further provision of 150 million riel, additional materials and food supplies to the six provinces bordering Thailand so that they can continue with quarantine accommodations for returning Cambodian migrants workers.
The six provinces are Battambang, Banteay Meanchey, Oddar Meanchey, Koh Kong, Pursat and Preah Vihear.
On February 18, the health ministry also reported that another four foreign passengers have tested positive for Covid-19 – an Indonesian man, an Indonesian woman, a Chinese woman and a Swiss man.
The latest cases bring the Kingdom’s Covid-19 tally to 483, with 470 recoveries and zero deaths.
