The Preah Sihanouk and Prey Veng provincial authorities have temporarily extended the suspension of certain factories and markets for two weeks to prevent the spread of Covid-19 after workers and vendors there tested positive for the disease.

In Preah Sihanouk province, governor Kuoch Chamroeun said in a notice that the operations of the three factories – FPZ Furniture (Cambodia), Cambodian Rome Industrial, and Itao Pet Supplies (Cambodia), all located in the Che Cheang Goji Special Economic Zone in Prey Nop district – will be suspended until October 11.

“The emergency response team of the provincial health department took samples from workers at the three factories for Covid-19 testing and the results came back positive,” the notice said without specifying how many cases were detected.

During the suspension, factory owners are required to cooperate with the provincial administration to conduct contact tracing. Failure to comply will result in legal action, it said.

In Prey Veng province, authorities also temporarily closed a market in Prey Veng town’s Kampong Leav commune for two weeks through October 12.

“Vendors in the market have tested positive for Covid-19 through rapid tests. The town and commune authorities are continuing to look for more people who have been in close and indirect contact with Covid-19-infected people to take samples for testing,” they said in a notice.

The provincial administration called on all people, especially vendors in the market, who have been in contact with Covid-19-positive people to immediately report to authorities and test for Covid-19 at the referral hospital and to self-quarantine.