Ministry of Health spokeswoman Or Vandine has warned that the daily number of Covid-19 cases could soon be in the thousands, should prevention measures not be strictly enforced in the face of rising community transmission of the highly infectious Omicron variant.

In an interview with local television news station BTV on February 19, Vandine illustrated just how quickly infections could double. If two persons are positive for Omicron, she explained, they can pass it on to four people in the next two days. The virus could subsequently spread to eight people in the next four days.

“This is why we see the fast increase of Covid-19 [cases] like we are seeing now. Omicron cases were [originally] found in just single digits daily. Now those have been followed by two-digit increases, and in recent weeks the number has jumped to three-digits.

“Sooner or later, the cases will reach four-digits [a day] if people are still complacent and negligent against [Covid-19] by not following the ‘three dos and three don’ts’ properly,” she said, referring to the government-instituted health guideline.

Cambodia announced two new Covid-19 deaths on February 20 after reporting no deaths in over a month, bring the total number of deaths in the Kingdom to 3,017. It also reported 736 new Covid-19 cases, 730 of which were community cases, while the remaining six were imported. All were confirmed to be the Omicron variant.

According to Vandine, the high daily number of cases reported in recent days is only from people who have voluntarily taken a test with health officials at test sites. It does not include cases where people have privately taken Rapid Antigen Tests, or are otherwise being treated at home and have not reported their status to the authorities. She reaffirmed the fact that at-home treatment had been recommended by Prime Minister Hun Sen.

Hun Sen stressed last week that Omicron had attacked even children. He said up to 25 per cent of children aged 5 and under have tested positive for the virus – including one of his grandchildren, he revealed, leading him to permit vaccination for children “aged 3 to under 5”.

Following his recommendation, the national Covid-19 vaccination committee announced that medically eligible children aged 3-4 can receive a primary two-dose regimen starting February 23 – exclusively with the Chinese-made Sinovac and Sinopharm inactivated virus shots.

Vandine, who is also the head of the committee, said in a notice on February 17 that the recommended interval between doses will be 28 days. Parents will be required to present valid forms of ID – such as birth certificates, passports, or family and residence books – for children to receive the jabs.

She added that Covid-19 vaccination sub-commissions nationwide are obliged to notify the public of available dates and sites for vaccination of the 3-4 age group.

She also stressed the importance of observing health guidelines at vaccination sites, warning that they could inadvertently become virus transmission sites otherwise.

“[We] have to prepare to vaccinate the children against Covid-19 in a smooth and orderly manner, as well as implement heath measures, such as wearing masks, maintaining social distancing of at least 1.5m, and washing hands frequently to prevent transmission at vaccination sites within our jurisdictions,” Vandine said.

Nationwide, children aged 5-11 who have completed their primary Covid-19 vaccination schedule at least four months prior will be able to get a booster shot of the Sinovac vaccine from February 21, according to Vandine.

In the capital, the booster shot for this age group will be administered at Calmette Hospital, Preah Ang Duong Hospital, National Paediatric Hospital, National Maternal and Child Health Centre, Khmer-Soviet Friendship Hospital and Kantha Bopha Children’s Hospital.

Vandine reiterated her call for parents and guardians to take their eligible children to receive their booster shot.