Hun Sen appealed to sellers not to increase prices amid the stockpiling. Hong Menea
Prime Minister Hun Sen said he will visit the man found positive for Covid-19 in Siem Reap and urged the people to trust the Cambodian health system while they face the global epidemic.
Speaking during the inauguration of National Road 55 on Monday, he said: “I will go to Siem Reap to see [him]. We need to end the fear surrounding this virus because in recent days it has become so excessive that people have started stockpiling food and drinks.”
Hun Sen said although the fears did not match reality, he respected the rights of those who bought supplies to store at home. However, he appealed to sellers not to increase prices amid the stockpiling.
“The only way forward is to trust ourselves. What do I mean? We have to trust that we are not sick and we are not infected. People are trying to instigate fear in us, but I am not sick.
“If you believe you have symptoms, go see a doctor and save yourselves. Go to the hospital and get your sample tested for your safety and the safety of your family and others.
“I think I will get my sample tested too when I go back because I seem to have a stuffy nose. After I am under an air-conditioner for more than an hour, my nose starts to get stuffy,” Hun Sen said.
Hun Sen also slammed those who he said increased the fear of the virus. In particular, he cited the case of an unnamed man living in Kampong Trabaek district, in Prey Veng province, who claimed that he [Hun Sen] was getting Covid-19 treatment in Singapore.
He also hit back at those who criticised Cambodia and told them to look at health systems in the US, Italy and other Western countries where hundreds of patients have died of the virus.
Hun Sen was also angered by the Vietnam News Agency for publishing an article saying Vietnam had blocked Cambodians and Europeans from entering the country in fear of the virus.
“I do not want Cambodians to be considered as aliens by Vietnam. I told Prak Sokhonn to contact Vietnam immediately and ask why you regard my country and its people as a risk,” he said.
The Vietnam Health Committee said in response that it did not specifically name Cambodia as reported, but security would be strengthened for all nationalities entering Vietnam.
Hun Sen also said the Vietnamese ambassador to Cambodia had told VNA to correct the information.
Hun Sen also confirmed that more than 110 state and private schools and training centres in Siem Reap town were temporarily closed to prevent the spread of Covid-19.
The move came after a 38-year-old Cambodian man was found positive for Covid-19 after having direct contact with a Japanese national.
The Ministry of Tourism also issued a press release on Monday confirming tourism-related skills training centres and schools would be temporarily closed in Siem Reap town as of Monday to prevent Covid-19 from spreading.
Siem Reap provincial referral hospital head Kros Sarath told a Siem Reap-based national radio that the 40-year-old Japanese man who was tested positive of Covid-19 was the owner of Japanese Language school in Siem Reap.
The Cambodian Covid-19 victim was the school’s general manager, while the three others who had had contact with the Japanese were school staff. The three have been tested negative but are under strict quarantine.
On Monday, the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sport issued a directive for all institutions and education departments across the country to practice safety measures in response to Covid-19.
The ministry told all institutions under its umbrella to use soap and sanitiser to wash their hands regularly. I also urged all educational institutions to report any constant cough or flu-like symptoms to the closest health centre or hospital.
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