Prime Minister Hun Sen has issued a circular to strengthen health measures to control the spread of Covid-19 during and after the Pchum Ben festival.

He urged relevant authorities to pay close attention during the holiday and to administer Covid-19 rapid tests to workers at factories, civil servants at state institutions and employees at various organisations after the holiday.

The government has cancelled the Pchum Ben festivities to prevent the spread of Covid-19 but has maintained the October 5-7 public holiday.

The prime minister said that during the holiday, many people will travel to visit family members and resorts across the country, which could risk a large-scale outbreak of Covid-19, especially the highly contagious Delta variant, which is rapidly spreading in the community.

“In order to prevent a large-scale outbreak, municipal and provincial governors must strengthen the implementation of health measures, in particular the ‘three dos and three don’ts’,” he said.

Hun Sen ordered authorities to tighten the implementation of tourism safety rules and standard operating procedures (SOP) at resorts and eateries and to take the necessary measures to curb the spread of the disease.

“Rapid testing is to ensure safety and prevent the spread of Covid-19 in public and private institutions, schools, factories and business establishments,” he said.

Hun Sen called on people to be more careful during the holiday and to adhere to health safety measures.