Today marks one month since the February 20 community outbreak of Covid-19, which had infected 1,162 people including children as young as two months old and claimed three lives as of March 21.

Ministry of Labour and Vocational Training spokesman Heng Sour, who is also chairman of the ministry’s Covid-19 vaccination committee – said at least 24 children and toddlers had contracted the novel coronavirus.

In a Facebook post accompanied by photos of a six-year-old boy and a four-year-old girl who were brought to hospital for treatment, Sour said: “According to [Royal Cambodian Armed Forces deputy commander-in-chief] Hun Manet . . . a working group has prepared [halal] food for our Muslim [patients].”

Ministry of Health spokeswoman Or Vandine reiterated that no one was immune from Covid-19.

“Now we all have to carry out preventive health measures to reduce the spread of Covid-19 and break off the chain of transmission as soon as possible,” she said.

Health minister Mam Bun Heng said the Covid-19 situation in Cambodia remained serious and public participation would determine the course of the outbreak.

“We must all accelerate our efforts to stop the spread of Covid-19 in the coming days and weeks. Lives depend on it,” he said.

On a positive note, Bun Heng said that since February 20 – when the first 32 local transmission cases were reported in Phnom Penh following a breach of quarantine – 446 out of the total 1,162 patients had recovered and been discharged from hospital.

World Health Organisation (WHO) representative to Cambodia Dr Li Ailan said the recent tragic deaths due to Covid-19 should serve as reminders to everyone about the seriousness of the disease.

“It can infect anyone at any time. The country is at a critical stage in its fight against Covid-19, but we have a window of opportunity to stop the virus from spreading if we all act together in solidarity,” she said.

Li said vaccines will help reduce hospitalisations but will not end the pandemic or put an end to the current outbreak.

Prime Minister Hun Sen has also reminded everyone to protect themselves against Covid-19 even if they have received their second dose of Covid-19 vaccine.

“I request that everyone continue to follow the three protections and three don’ts guidelines. Those who have received their second [vaccine] shot must not let their guard down. The vaccines do not provide total protection against the virus; they only help reduce its spread,” he said.

Hun Sen also announced that the health ministry would launch a 15-day AstraZeneca vaccination campaign for people aged 60 and over in Phnom Penh.

“The vaccination centres must be located in districts that are easy for people to access. Those who haven’t yet reached the age of 60 should not show up and try to get vaccinated because you’ll be taking it away from an elderly person,” he said.

The prime minister said 1.5 million doses of China’s Sinovac vaccine were scheduled to arrive in Cambodia on March 26.

Since vaccination campaign began, the health ministry said it had inoculated 145,533 civilians with the Chinese-made Sinopharm vaccine and 65,901 people with the AstraZeneca’s Covishield vaccine as of March 20.

The Ministry of National Defence said it had inoculated 110,587 members of the armed forces with the Sinopharm vaccine.

Separately on March 20, the Siem Reap provincial authorities temporarily cordoned off Kokchak commune in Siem Reap town after finding that a 35-year-old man who had tested positive for Covid-19 had been residing in the commune’s Kouk Tnaot village.

The man is a dump truck driver in Dei Ith commune’s Dei Ith village of Kandal province’s Kien Svay district but had returned to Siem Reap on March 7.

The provincial administration has also suspended the operations of four medical clinics out of concerns that the 35-year-old, who had reportedly visited them, had spread the virus to their staff.

As of March 21, Cambodia had recorded a total of 1,680 Covid-19 cases, with 725 remaining hospitalised and three confirmed deaths.