COVID−19 situation in Cambodia
The COVID−19 was first reported in Cambodia on 27 January 2020 in a Chinese man who was later cured (WHO, 2020). As of May 24, 2020 there are 124 confirmed cases, 122 recovered, 2 active and no deaths. A total of 16,416 tests have been carried out (983 samples/million people)
（https://www.worldometers.info/coronavirus/）
Of the COVID−19 cases, 87 were linked to overseas travel, 38 locally acquired linked to cases confirmed in Cambodia or abroad. Overseas acquired cases have potentially acquired infection in eight countries; France (37), Malaysia (34), Thailand (5), Vietnam (3), China (1), Austria (1), England (1), Japan (1), USA (1), Philippines (1), with two unclear. There are twelve nationalities among cases; Cambodian (53), French (39), Malaysian (13), British (5), Chinese (3), Vietnamese (3), American (2), Indonesian (2), Canadian (2), Belgian (1), Swedish (1), Congolese (1). Confirmed cases have been diagnosed in 13 provinces. Most of the cases were being treated at an isolation ward in the Khmer-Soviet Friendship Hospital in Phnom Penh.
Cambodian government has established the National Committee to Fight COVID−19 to coordinate efforts against the COVID−19. Health centers and referral hospitals have been ready for sampling and treating those COVID−19 infected patients. Schools have been used for quarantine of those COVID−19 suspected cases. The restriction was made to travelers especially those from the western worlds (RGC, 2020).
Sign says, “No face mask, no entry. Repair motorcycle only for those wearing face mask.”
The government has taken action since the first case was reported and particularly from the 17th of March 2020 up to the present to control laborers for 14 days whom came from abroad for the coming Khmer New Year. The Khmer New Year which is one of the very important events in Cambodia, had been postponed and the mobilities of people between provinces and capital city have been banned in order to prevent the spread of COVID−19 in the communities (SPM, 2020). Hygiene and sanitation have been applied especially hand washing or use of sanitizer. Social distancing, online working, online learning has been encouraged (WHO, 2020).
Due to this pandemic, people became more aware of the COVID−19 severity and sanitation has been significantly adopted at both the personal level and at public places. This pandemic impacts negatively on tourism, commerce, finance, industries as well as the people’s livelihood (SPM, 2020).
The COVID−19 has reduced the daily activities of the population. It limits both work and individual economic situation. There have been inflation for example on alcohol-base disinfectants and face masks.
Sophal CHEAT
Faculty of Veterinary Medicine,
Royal University of Agriculture
Phnom Penh, Kingdom of Cambodia
Date written: May 24, 2020
References
http://cdcmoh.gov.kh/resource-documents/daily-surveillance-reports?fbclid=IwAR3GEkA6b6cnHvpEvneTUezG_PlDkgByXjQzAcmCViNsC0cFJhiaVmt1zZk
RGC, Royal Government of Cambodia. Decision number 29 សសរ on establishment the National Committee to Fight COVID−19, March 18, 2020.
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1vEPgpuV1wyxzEOba2aMJwXKQMogZkPQi/view
SPM (2020) Remarks by Samdech Techo HUN SEN Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Cambodia At the ASEAN Special on COVID−19 14 April 2020
https://pressocm.gov.kh/en/archives/65738
WHO, World Health Organization. Ministry of Health responds to first positive case of new coronavirus 2020.
https://www.who.int/cambodia/news/detail/28-01-2020-ministry-of-health-responds-to-first-positive-case-of-new-coronavirus