As the three-day Pchum Ben holiday is approaching, Ministry of Health spokesperson Or Vandine called on authorities in the capital and provinces to ready the tracing mechanism for Covid-19.

Speaking while attending a closing ceremony of the vaccination campaign in Mondulkiri province on September 29, Vandine said Prime Minister Hun Sen had retained the Pchum Ben public holiday from October 5-7, but authorities have to be prepared for tracing the disease.

“We must have an effective tracing mechanism and enforce it. When many people take holidays, and there are those who do not properly carry out preventative measures,” she said.

“If we don’t have an effectivetracing mechanism, sooner or later, we will see an outbreak,” he said, adding that authorities mustbe ready at resorts three days ahead of the holiday.

As people are normally leaving towns and the city for their home province, Vandine said authorities should also organisea means of transportation for those who do not have their own vehicles. The drivers have tostrictly practice preventative health measures.

Svay Sam Eang, Mondulkiri provincial governor said on September 29 that he had already met with provincial officials to prepare for the holiday.

“The provincial administration has already made plans. We will review resorts that have not been affected nor have a high risk of transmission. We will allow such resorts to reopen by following health measures such as takingpeople’s temperature and hand sanitising,” he said.

Prime Minister Hun Sen on September 25 urged people who are travelling to natural resorts to strictly follow health measures.