Motorists wear face masks as they commute in Phnom Penh’s Chak Angre Krom commune on Monday. Hean Rangsey
The number of citizens wearing masks in public has increased markedly following the government’s passage into law of a sub-decree on health measures to prevent the spread of Covid-19 that spells out fines and punishments for those who fail to heed the instructions issued by the Ministry of Health.
On March 12 the government issued a new sub-decree on health measures to prevent the spread of Covid-19 and other contagious diseases.
Comprising nine chapters and 39 articles, the sub-decree states a number of new restrictions and penalties and gives the health ministry broad discretion to determine the behaviours required for the maintenance of public health.
Article 19 of the sub-decree states that individuals who fail to wear masks in essential places – as determined by the health ministry – will be fined between 200,000 and one million riel, after being given one warning.
The term “essential places” has thus far popularly been interpreted as meaning any and all public places.
Regarding the new measures, Sopheak Leap, a coffee vendor in the Chip Mong Borey gated community, said she supports the sub-decree and regards it as doing her part to help prevent the spread of Covid-19 and that the fines were necessary because some citizens have been negligent in the wearing of masks.
“I support it. When it comes to the sub-decree, it will help prevent the spread a lot. Sometimes, some brothers and sisters have neglected to wear [masks]. When they are fined for not wearing [them], it is good,” she said.
Similarly, Sok Eang an employee for a company in Phnom Penh, said that she has always worn a mask since the very first Covid-19 outbreak.
“I am not afraid of the fines, but I am afraid of Covid. If the law imposes fines on people, it is only because they won’t accept the need to protect themselves from this disease they can’t actually see,” Eang said.
The sub-decree also states that individuals who have been in contact with Covid-19 infected persons and who refuse to cooperate with health officials in having their samples taken for testing will be fined one to five million riel.
Article 20 of the sub-decree states that private establishments or business owners that fail to follow the guidelines for wearing masks and physical distancing will be fined two to 10 million riel after being given one warning by the authorities.
Similarly, event organisers who fail to follow social distancing guidelines will be fined one to five million riel, also after being given a first warning.
Phnom Penh Municipal Police spokesman San Sok Seiha told The Post on March 15 that over the last few weeks a lot of citizens were already wearing masks in public even prior to the sub-decree.
“As the Ministry of Health has made clear, this can quickly have an impact in preventing the spread of Covid-19 and Samdech [Hun Sen] has already given us the guidelines of three protections and three don’ts. When the guidelines are implemented consistently, we will be able to manage the [Covid] situation,” he said.
However, Ministry of Health secretary of state York Sambath has warned in the past that wearing masks alone won’t be 100 per cent effective in preventing the spread of disease – people also have to wash their hands and adhere to a very high standard of sanitation and hygiene.
“Wearing a mask will prevent [the virus from entering] the nose and mouth, but the eyes and ears, we don’t have anything to cover them. So, just as importantly, we have to wash our hands [frequently]. So, I would like to call on all citizens to wash their hands and bodies – it is very important,” she said.
