Logo of Phnom Penh Post newspaper Phnom Penh Post - ‘Nov 28 incident’ not over; new cases found

‘Nov 28 incident’ not over; new cases found

Content image - Phnom Penh Post
Interior ministry officials await Covid-19 retesting at the Ministry of Interior on December 12, 2020. Interior Ministry

‘Nov 28 incident’ not over; new cases found

The Ministry of Health said it was still too early for the government to declare an end to the outbreak of Covid-19 community transmissions, despite the relatively low number of cases since the first one was confirmed on November 28.

This came as the ministry and the Permanent Mission of the Kingdom of Cambodia to the UN explained the necessity of revealing the identities of Covid-19 patients whose cases were linked to the so-called “November 28 community incident”.

Ministry spokeswoman Or Vandine told The Post on December 13 that contact tracing related to the incident was ongoing.

“We need to complete our work first and await a decision by Samdech Techo Prime Minister [Hun Sen],” she said.

As of December 12, a total of 8,814 people who were involved with the November 28 incident had been tested for a third time. Of the number, 40 people, 19 of them women, have tested positive.

Vandine said it was necessary to disclose the identities of people whose positive cases are linked to the incident, and that their cooperation, as well as the general public’s, has been instrumental in facilitating contact tracing and quickly stopping human-to-human transmission.

With the prime minister’s approval, the ministry has since December 4 published personal information of people confirmed to have contracted Covid-19.

UN human rights experts have expressed alarm at Cambodian authorities’ decision to allow such publication, calling it a deplorable breach of privacy unnecessary under any circumstances.

They welcomed a health ministry press statement on December 10 which affirmed the government’s commitment to respect individuals’ rights to privacy and dignity and which coincided with the ministry removing photographs of individuals diagnosed with Covid-19. Concerns remained, however, that press releases continue to include personal details.

In response, representatives of the Permanent Mission of the Kingdom of Cambodia to the UN released a statement on December 11 asserting that the disclosure of the identities of affected individuals was of paramount importance and absolutely necessary under circumstances which warranted urgent measures and in the face of a dire need to curb spread of the virus in the community.

“The practice of withholding names will resume as soon as the community outbreak is fully contained. The Kingdom’s fight against Covid-19 integrates human rights values,” the press statement said.

Meanwhile, the Asian Development Bank (ADB) has launched a $9 billion vaccine initiative – the Asia Pacific Vaccine Access Facility (APVAX) – in order to offer rapid and equitable support to developing member states as they seek to procure and distribute effective and safe coronavirus vaccines.

On December 13, the health ministry confirmed two new imported cases of Covid-19.

One of the two is a 47-year-old Jordanian man who arrived in Cambodia from Jordan via South Korea on December 10. He was travelling with 76 other passengers, all of whom tested negative and are being quarantined at two separate hotels in Phnom Penh.

The second case is a 32-year-old Cambodian man who arrived in Cambodia from Malaysia via South Korea on December 11. He was travelling with 62 other passengers, all of whom tested negative and are being quarantined at three separate hotels in the capital.

As of December 13, Cambodia had recorded a total of 359 Covid-19 cases, with 307 recoveries.

MOST VIEWED

  • Ministry orders all schools, public and private, to close for SEA Games

    From April 20 to May 18, all public and private educational institutions will be closed to maintain order and support Cambodia's hosting of the 32nd SEA Games and 12th ASEAN Para Games, said a directive from the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sport. Cambodia will host the

  • Almost 9K tourists see equinox sunrise at Angkor Wat

    Nearly 9,000 visitors – including 2,226 international tourists – gathered at Angkor Wat on March 21 to view the spring equinox sunrise, according to a senior official of the Siem Reap provinical tourism department. Ngov Seng Kak, director of the department, said a total of 8,726 people visited Angkor Wat to

  • Angkor Beer strengthens national pride with golden new look and fresher taste

    Angkor Beer – the "Gold of Angkor" – has a new look, one that is more stylish and carries a premium appeal, as well as a fresher taste and smoother flavour, making it the perfect choice for any gathering. Angkor Beer recently launched its new design, one

  • Newest horror film showcases unique Khmer culture, identity

    At first glance, the trailer to new horror sensation The Ritual: Black Nun looks like a western-produced feature film. As the story reveals itself to the viewers, it becomes clearer that this is a Khmer film, with a strong Cambodian identity and close links to

  • Water supply authority assures public shortages over early ‘24

    The Phnom Penh Water Supply Authority (PPWSA) asked for understanding from Phnom Penh residents in some communes where water pressure is weak. They assured residents that all supply issues will be resolved by early 2024, but have suggested that residents use water sparingly in the meantime.

  • Khmer ballet documentary debuts April 1

    A new documentary, The Perfect Motion, or Tep Hattha in Khmer, will premiere to the public on April 1. The documentary film follows two intertwined storylines: the creation of a show called Metamorphosis by the late Princess Norodom Buppha Devi (her very last production) and the