The government is handing out more than a million face masks free of charge to people crossing into the Kingdom through the Thai-Cambodian checkpoint in Poipet town. Photo supplied
As the world follows the spread of the 2019 Novel Coronavirus (2019-nCoV) that has already killed 81 people in China, the government is implementing measures to contain further infections here.
These include handing out more than a million face masks free of charge to people crossing into the Kingdom through the Thai-Cambodian checkpoint in Poipet town, Banteay Meanchey province.
Apart from the deaths in China, the virus which was first detected last month in Wuhan city, has also infected nearly 3,000 people in that country.
Also, the disease, a coronavirus similar to the deadly severe acute respiratory syndrome (Sars), has already found its way into Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Taiwan, Macau, South Korea, Japan and the US, among others.
Deputy police chief in charge of information at Poipet International Checkpoint Chuon Sary told The Post on Monday that so far no one crossing the border has raised the alarm.
He said everyone’s body temperature is monitored with screening equipment recently installed by the Ministry of Health.
To further ensure that Cambodia contains the deadly virus, border police began handing out masks to people crossing the border and doing business in the area.
“We will continue to hand out the masks to all national and international tourists and businesspeople here. We have one million masks and we will hand them out until a cure is found,” he said.
Ministry spokeswoman Or Vandine told The Post on Monday that the use of face masks was an effective precaution against the disease, and called on vendors to refrain from raising prices of such products.
“Please don’t increase the price of these masks. Our brothers and sisters must be able to afford them for the collective good,” she said.
She also urged the public to cover their nose and mouth with a handkerchief or tissue when coughing or sneezing, even if they are wearing a mask.
The ministry on Sunday issued a statement instructing the public to avoid close contact with patients suffering from infections of the respiratory tract or who have visited the Huanan seafood market in Wuhan, where the infection originated.
It also urged people to wash their hands after touching animals and to cook meat and eggs thoroughly before consumption, apart from covering their nostrils and mouth with a krama, handkerchief or tissue when coughing or sneezing.
“The ministry calls on those who have been to Wuhan to be particularly cautious. If you are coughing, have a fever or are having difficulty breathing, please see a doctor immediately,” it said.
Speaking at a press conference on Monday, government spokesman Phay Siphan warned that action would be taken against those who spread misinformation about the virus.
“Those who attempt to cause chaos by creating and spreading fake news about the virus are committing a criminal offence. You should trust news that comes from the Ministry of Health,” he said.
