A total of 146 female detainees have been transferred from Preah Sihanouk to Kampot provincial prison to prevent the spread of Covid-19 among inmates caused by crowded conditions after 34 inmates tested positive for the disease on May 8.

The Ministry of Interior’s general department of prisons (GDP) spokesman Nuth Savana told The Post that there had been no new cases found since May 8.

A second Covid-19 test for detainees who tested positive would take about a week.

"The health of the Covid-19 positive prisoners is normal,” he said.

Savana said the female inmates would be held in Kampot until the pandemic subsides.

“We decided to transfer them to Kampot provincial prison because they are a vulnerable population and because our provincial prison only has a security fence,” he said. “We do not have a stone wall, so we think the virus is transmitted easily.”

Savana said these detainees were transferred after they tested negative for Covid-19.

“The best option is to remove them to make more room and maintain safety and reduce any fears,” he said.

In order to prevent the spread of Covid-19, the GDP had requested Prime Minister to approve vaccinations for inmates in high-risk areas in Phnom Penh, Kandal, Sihanoukville and Siem Reap.

After receiving the directive from Hun Sen, more than 10,000 detainees in Phnom Penh were vaccinated within three days from May 7-9.