Phnom Penh, March 14, 2020 –Samdech Akka Moha Sena Padei Techo Hun Sen, Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Cambodia, said Europe becomes now the new epidemic centre of novel coronavirus (COVID-19) due to the rapid and increasing transmission in some European countries.
According to his official Facebook page, during a get-together with more than 2,300 sub-national officials and armed forces in Battambang province, Samdech Techo Hun Sen said the World Health Organisation (WHO) considered Europe as the new epicentre of COVID-19 pandemic, and in order to prevent imported transmission cases, the Cambodian Ministry of Health has announced to ban the entry of foreigners from Italy, Germany, Spain, France, and United States in Cambodia for 30 days, starting from Mar. 17, 2020.
At the same time, the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports today ordered all general education institutions, both public and private, in Phnom Penh capital and Siem Reap provincial city to take early Khmer New Year holidays, which is part of the urgent measures taken to contain the deadly COVID-19.
There are currently seven confirmed cases of COVID-19 infection in Cambodia – a Cambodian man, a Chinese tourist, three British tourists, a Canadian man, and a Belgian man. The Chinese man has been successfully cured and returned to his home countries. There is no sign of community transmission in Cambodia.
COVID-19 is now hitting more than 120 countries and territories around the world.
By Khan Sophirom
