Prime Minister Hun Sen speaks at the inauguration ceremony for National Road 7 in Kratie province on Monday. Hong Menea
As the Omicron coronavirus variant surged in recent days, Prime Minister Hun Sen and Minister of Health Mam Bun Heng reiterated their calls for the public to maintain vigilance lest it be too late.
In a reminder late on February 8, Bun Heng said the number of Omicron cases had surged to three-digit figures in recent days. The minister said he had noted loosening preventive measures among the public, including gatherings of people becoming larger.
He said the general public must practise preventive measures including the three dos and three don’ts, and should be getting vaccinated with booster shots.
“All of these efforts will help us to avert a public health disaster and severe impacts on both our families and the economy.
“We must continue to be mindful of our responsibilities while living with Covid-19 and reopening our society and economy. We all need to keep working together to respond to the virus by practising what have successfully done already.
“We have to join hands to prevent the spread of the virus before it is too late and we regret the missed opportunity,” Bun Heng said in a statement.
On February 9 alone, the health ministry reported 223 new Covid-19 Omicron cases – five of which were imported – and all were confirmed to be the Omicron variant. Daily community cases had jumped from 87 on February 8, 103 on February 7, and 95 the previous day.
“Those individuals who are required to take a Covid-19 test or quarantine must follow the guidelines exactly and respect the instructions of local authority in order to prevent a large-scale outbreak in the community,” Bun Heng said.
He also instructed local authorities to continue to educate the public about Covid-19 and remind them to keep their vaccinations up to date.
Prime Minister Hun Sen repeated his appeal in a special audio address to the nation on February 8, urging the public to continue to practise the preventive measures and to get vaccinated.
“If each of us follows these measures, the virus will not spread so rapidly. I appeal to our compatriots to minimise the size of gatherings – for drinking or other entertainment. Even though there are no Delta or Alpha cases, which have claimed lives among our people, we must maintain social distancing,” he said.
Hun Sen added that Omicron cases had also increased in neighbouring Thailand and Vietnam in the wake of the Lunar New Year celebrations.
“We must take care. Even in the places that have been permitted to reopen such as weddings or funerals, we have to limit the number of participants to the smallest number possible,” he said.
Hun Sen said recently that Cambodia will go ahead with the reopening of economic activities. The Khmer New Year celebrations – which will take place in mid-April – will also be permitted this year following two years of cancellation.
“This appeal doesn’t mean that we are walking backwards. But we must act now to prevent any eventual [tragedy]. Omicron is spreading in Phnom Penh and if we are negligent, Omicron will transmit to the whole country.
“The health ministry and authorities at all levels, as well as the general public, must practise these measures as strictly as they can, so as to avoid disaster for our country,” he said.
