Prime Minister Hun Sen said Cambodia had vaccinated nearly one million people while more Covid-19 vaccines will arrive in phases between April and August.

“This year, if the vaccines arrive as planned, we will have 20 million doses. But only over 11 million doses will arrive first. Currently, we have two million doses readily available and on April 17, another half a million doses will come,” he said.

The prime minister said if compared to the country's 16 million population, the current rate of vaccination was not low. He noted that another 7,5 million doses will touch down between April and August.

“Vaccine is for our people, but recently there is criticism that I violated the spirit of voluntary vaccination," he said, alluding to his recent warning that vaccination could become mandatory among state institutions if the situation did not ease.

"I want to make it clear that as the head of the government, I can make it complusary for members of the armed forces and civil servants to get vaccinated. But for the general public, it remains on voluntary basis,” he said.

Hun Sen also warned that the inter-provincial travel ban could be extended if the number of positive cases surge.

He instructed provincial authorities to inspect cargo trucks to see if there are people hiding inside. Those caught crossing the border, he said, will be punished in accordance with the law.

He noted, however, that the authorities should assess the neccessity of people's travelling during the ban and grant exemptions as such.