An American couple that criticised Cambodian quarantine methods to a US-based newspaper was tested Covid-19 positive, Prime Minister Hun Sen said on Wednesday.

He said the couple is among the Viking Cruise Journey passengers who are quarantined in Kampong Cham province, and among two others who were confirmed positive for the disease on Tuesday.

“Now, besides the three people who contracted the virus [when the ship docked] and another passenger who has since recovered, we have found the latest four virus-infected passengers.

“Among them are two Americans who said there were lizards at the place where they were quarantined. They are rich and they wanted to stay at the five-star hotel. If we had followed what they demanded, that five-star hotel may have been destroyed by now,” he said.

On Monday last week, the American couple, Ryan Knapp and Theresa Gordon, said they were quarantined in Kampong Cham in conditions that were tantamount to detention.

According to USA Today, the couple complained of lizards and leaking toilets.