Motorists wearing face masks commute in Phnom Penh’s Meanchey district. Hean Rangsey
Minister of Health Mam Bun Heng issued a public health notice requiring people in 15 provinces to wear masks and socially distance from now until further notice.
Bun Heng’s notice covers 15 provinces in their entirety where the Delta variant of Covid-19 is rapidly spreading.
The 15 affected provinces are Pursat, Battambang, Mondulkiri, Ratanakkiri, Kratie, Stung Treng, Kampot, Kep, Kampong Thom, Preah Vihear, Pailin, Koh Kong, Kampong Chhnang, Tbong Khmum and Oddar Meanchey.
“Mask requirements and social distancing for individuals were defined in Articles 3 and 4 of the Prakas dated March 22. Everyone must wear masks and socially distance to prevent the community transmission of Covid-19,” he said.
He requested that authorities at all levels take measures to ensure strict mask requirements in public and social distancing are observed. He also urged all members of the public to take part in the implementation of these duties to prevent the further spread of Covid-19
Ratanakkiri provincial deputy governor Nhem Sam Oeun told The Post on August 16 that the Covid-19 situation had yet to improve and the figures were still going up and down, with no infections found on some days.
“In general, in our province, we have always closely monitored this situation and especially masking and distancing. Our people know they must do it almost 100 per cent and they practice it well,” he said.
Nhem Sam Oeun added that his provincial administration had instructed the commune and village authorities to instruct their local residents on the duty of wearing masks.
“Social distancing is also well respected. We don’t allow large gatherings and at restaurants or food shops we only allow food for take-away at night and we enforce curfew,” he said.
Deputy governor of Oddar Meanchey Dy Rado said that most of the Covid-19 cases in his province were found on migrant workers returning from Thailand.
“We formed a commission to check the implementation of mask wearing and social distancing duties. We observed that our people have followed the instructions from the provincial administration, health ministry and the government,” he said.
According to the ministry’s announcement, all people in the affected provinces are required to wear face masks except for those who are in a room alone by themselves. All drivers of public transportation and their passengers, all service providers and at any place where more than two people present, those two or more people must follow the face mask requirements.
