Kratie provincial health officials are testing vendors from the town’s Samaki Market and residents in its vicinity after 49 of more than 1,000 people tested positive for Covid-19 on August 23.

Provincial Department of Health director Chhneang Sovutha said on August 24 it was an unprecedented outbreak in the province.

“We have never found new cases of more than 40 like this. In the past, we found about 10 or at the most 20,” he said, adding that the outbreak could have been caused by negligence resulting from the public not practicing preventive health measures.

Pen Linath, deputy governor and spokesman for the provincial administration, said on August 24 that authorities were still monitoring the situation before deciding whether to shut the market.

“In the past, we have closed the market. So, if it closes again it may affect people’s livelihoods. We ask people to get tested. If they are negative, a card will be provided for them to reopen their stall,” he said.

Kratie had registered 619 Covid-19 cases with 431 recoveries and nine deaths as of August 23.

In neighbouring Stung Treng province, the provincial administration extended the town’s lockdown for another week through August 31.

Provincial governor Mom Saroeun on August 24 ordered that all non-essential businesses in the town would remain in lockdown until further notice.

Provincial health department director Ung Soviet said on August 24 that 18 more Delta variant cases had been detected, prompting the provincial administration to continue the lockdown.

He said authorities traced the Delta cases to two men from Banteay Meanchey province, who spread the virus in almost all communes in the town.

According to Soviet, Stung Treng province had 46 Delta cases as of August 24.