The Ministry of Health screened more than 22 million international arrivals to Cambodia in the five years from 2018 to the end of 2022, as Cambodia tightened control during the Covid-19 pandemic.
According to the ministry’s five-year achievement report, the 22,324,389 arrivals included both passengers and crew of aircraft, vessels and road transport.
The figures, it said, demonstrated the effectiveness of the measures taken by the government to curb the import of Covid-19 and other infectious diseases.
“The ministry also accelerated the implementation of quarantine centres in the Kingdom’s western border provinces, for the millions of Cambodians who returned from abroad. As the disease control improved, several returnees were permitted to self-isolate at their homes,” it added.
During a recent annual meeting held in Phnom Penh to review the ministry’s work results of the past five years and direction for 2023, Prime Minister Hun Sen praised the ministry for its successful adherence to the government’s plans to restrict community transmissions of Covid-19.
“This was one of the primary reasons we were able to reopen the country so successfully,” he said, while urging the ministry to continue to monitor public health risks.
“The ministry and all other relevant authorities must continue to strengthen the healthcare system at both the national and sub-national levels so it is capable of responding to any future public health emergencies. It should be communicating with international partners and constantly assessing the risks of any further potential epidemics,” he said.
