Prak Sokhonn orders his officials to postpone overseas trips to contain spread of COVID-19

Foreign Affairs Minister Prak Sokhonn. KT/Siv Channa

Foreign Affairs Minister Prak Sokhonn has ordered his officials to postpone all overseas trips and be self-isolated within 14 days after their return from abroad to prevent the spread of the COVID-19 in the Kingdom.

According to an audio obtained last night, Mr Sokhonn said that all leadership of the Foreign Affairs Ministry have to postpone all overseas trips.

He said that Cambodia has seen an increased cases of the COVID-19 infection in past few days.

“I must take some measures regarding the safety of our Foreign Ministry [official]. First, anyone, who has just returned from a mission [abroad], especially from countries where the disease has broken out, must be self-isolated at home within 14 days,” he said.

Mr Sokhonn said that all departments have to list its officials who have gone overseas.

“Secondly, put off all missions to some countries for one month, except it is a necessary case or they need to be permitted by me,” he said.

“Thirdly, put off meetings with foreign guests. If it cannot be avoidable, please do not shake hands and stand one and a half metres away from them,” he said.

“Lastly, if someone can work from home through online, please do it,” he said.

Mr Sokhonn’s comment came as the Kingdom has confirmed 12 cases of the COVID-19.

According to a Health Ministry’s press release, the four new cases includes a four-month-old infant of a French national who tested positive in Singapore and in Cambodia, a Cambodian citizen who had returned from France and two Khmer-Islams who had attended a religious congregation in Malaysia recently.