COVID-19 travel ban to take effect

The Health Ministry blocks the entry or transit of visitors from six countries. KT/Chor Sokunthea

The government has decided to temporarily bar people from six countries from entering the Kingdom. Cambodia records new COVID-19 cases over the weekend.

There are eight confirmed coronavirus cases in the Kingdom. Over the weekend, three people from France, Canada and Belgium in the capital tested positive for COVID-19.

The Health Ministry in a statement yesterday said foreigners from the United States, Germany, Italy, France, Spain and Iran are temporarily banned from the Kingdom.

“Recently, the Kingdom of Cambodia discovered COVID-19 among foreigners,” Health Minister Mam Bun Heng said in the statement. “Immediate measures are required to prevent imported cases from entering Cambodia.”

The Foreign Affairs Ministry on Saturday told diplomats abroad to suspend visa processes for people from the six countries for the next 30 days.

Ouch Borith, a secretary of state at the ministry, said the temporary ban will take effect Tuesday.

He said the ban is being put in place because the US, Germany, Italy, France, Spain and Iran have increasing numbers of COVID-19 cases.

When asked why China is not listed, Health Ministry spokeswoman Or Vandine said, the government is confident the COVID-19 outbreak in China is under control.

“We focused on countries with many travellers going in and out,” Ms Vandine said. “We also focused on countries with rising virus cases.”

“We have to continuously review those countries carefully and we will  consider taking more action according to the situation,” she added. “People travelling from those countries should understand we have to carry out this measure to prevent infection.”

She said beginning Wednesday, Cambodians are advised against travelling to the six countries.

“If you are returning [from these countries] please report to the Health Ministry working group and impose self-quarantine for 14 days,” Ms Vandine said.

As for the latest case, a French national, Ms Vandine said, travelled with his wife and son from Paris to Singapore on Friday. Authorities in Singapore told him to wait for results of his COVID-19 detection test.

However, the man was told to fly out of Singapore by the team of doctors who took over the shift. He was told the results will be issued later. Ms Vandine said this event happened because a doctor there rotated out of a work shift.

She said Singaporean authorities sent the results to the ministry on Saturday and the information given, prompted the ministry to scour Phnom Penh for the man to have him retested by the Pasteur Institute of Cambodia.

“Results from the institute shows the 35-year-old Frenchman tested positive for COVID-19,” Ms Vandine said. “His wife and son are waiting for results. The Frenchman is under quarantine.”

According to the World Health Organization, there have been 142,539 COVID-19 global cases, with 5,393 deaths as of Saturday. The organisation noted there have been 81,021 confirmed cases in China, including 3,194 deaths.

The Education Ministry on Saturday announced school closures in Phnom Penh and Siem Reap city, where a man was detected as a carrier of COVID-19 last week.

The ministry in a statement said international schools must inform parents and guardians of the closures and other preventive measures as advised by the WHO.

The statement said parents are encouraged to home school their children while practising social distancing. It said children should avoid swimming pools, gyms and playgrounds to avoid further infection.

In addition, all passengers and crew members of Viking Cruise Journey were allowed to disembark and enter quarantine in a hotel in Kampong Cham province.

Last week, three British passengers tested positive and were placed under quarantine in a hospital in Phnom Penh.

Chea Krouch, a spokesman for the provincial hall, said yesterday there are 59 guests and crew members.

“They are isolated from each other,” Mr Krouch said. “A working group is monitoring their health for 14 days. Food will be distributed.”

Kim Sourphirum, director of the health department, informed yesterday the working group will retest any sample obtained from those aboard the ship to be certain.

“Right now, they are healthy, they show no symptoms,” Mr Sourphirum said. “We plan to retest specimens to be sure. After they are cleared, they can return to their countries. The ship remains docked. It will be disinfected.