Phsar Depo, a state market in the capital’s Tuol Kork district. Heng Chivoan
Following Phnom Penh’s elimination of red zones and reduction of orange zones to household or building locations, Kandal province’s Takmao town has gone one step further by lifting all covid-19 administrative measures – including coloured zones – from May 20.
The Banteay Meanchey Provincial Administration also intends to lift its Covid-19 administrative measures in Sisophon town beginning May 22.
In Phnom Penh, the municipal administration has decided to reopen all state-run markets. Improvised markets, such as those near hospitals, factories or residential areas, will remain closed until further notice
In Kandal, provincial governor Kong Sophorn issued a directive lifting administrative measures for orange and yellow zones in Takmao town.
Sophorn cautioned that if Covid-19 cases are found or suspected to be present in any house, building or other location, then response measures are to be taken immediately to cut off transmission,” it said.
Banteay Meanchey provincial governor Um Reatrey also issued a directive on May 20 lifting administrative measures put in place to contain the pandemic on May 2.
Phnom Penh municipal governor Khuong Sreng said he will continue to tighten enforcement of the measures that remain in place and punish those who violate them because some youths had been violating the measures and had not been cooperating with authorities.
“At this time, in order to bring the Covid-19 outbreak under control, the Phnom Penh Municipal Administration . . . must tighten administrative measure and increase punishment for lawbreakers, including the public revelation of the violators’ identities,” he said.
Takeo provincial governor Ouch Phea decided to temporarily suspend Samrong Yaong Market in Smau Khnhei village in Bati district’s Trapaing Sap commune and impose a partial lockdown on the villages of Smau Khnhei, Chek, Pun Phnum and Roleang Kreus because people there had tested positive for Covid-19 recently.
“This Samrong Yaong Market will be shut down on the morning of Thursday until further notice. We decided to shut it down to cut off the Covid-19 pandemic in the villages and prevent this disease from spreading to other areas,” he said.
He asked that all vendors be tested for the virus, quarantine and follow all Ministry of Health guidelines.
In Preah Sihanouk province, the authorities have announced safety standards for sales at marts, houses and other locations. Governor Kouch Chamroeun said the administration had developed these safety standards in order to get people back to normal life and begin the economic recovery.
“Business owners must file applications – which are free of charge – asking the provincial hall for a sales permit. Vendors must have a letter that indicates a negative test result for Covid-19 and they must undergo testing once every 14 days,” he said.
