As much of the country scrambles to cope with the ongoing community outbreak of Covid-19, only two provinces have not recorded a single case as of April 29: Stung Treng and Ratanakkiri. Officials in these provinces have vowed to prevent the disease from entering their jurisdictions.

Stung Treng Provincial Administration chief Men Kong said on April 29 that provincial authorities are working hard to keep the province safe.

“No Stung Treng resident has contracted the virus. Our measures are not different from those of other provinces. We have administrative and health measures according to the government instructions,” Kong said.

He said authorities check people travelling who enter along National Road 9, National Road 78, International Checkpoint Trapaing Kriel, and other routes connecting the province.

“We must restrict travel as much as possible. We have temperature checks and ask where people their origin. If travellers had any direct contact with a Covid-19 patient, they must be tested and quarantined.

For those who have indirect contact, they must undergo quarantine in a community. There are six community quarantine centres in Stung Treng province,” he said.

Authorities are also making efforts to raise awareness in public areas such as markets, resorts, restaurants, and beverage shops, along with broadcasting on provincial TV and radio.

Thong Savun, Ratanakiri provincial governor said his province has been following measures implemented by the Ministry of Health.

In Pailin province, there was only one imported case, according to provincial governor Ban Sreymom.

“We don’t have any cases connected to the community outbreak, only one case from Phnom Penh,” she said.

“We use all means to control Covid in the community. We have strict measures for people entering Pailin, especially where they are from. If they are from high-risk areas, we test them and place them in 14-day quarantine.

“Now we use rapid test devices, and we determine how long quarantine will take depending on how long they plan to be in the province,” she said.

She said for businesspeople who do not want to stay at a quarantine centre can quarantine at hotels or guesthouses organised by authorities.

Oddar Meanchey province also has no cases linked to the community outbreak, except two imported cases from Thailand, which have fully recovered, according to provincial administration chief Chea Pisith.

As of April 29, Cambodia recorded 12,641 cases, with 8,119 undergoing treatment and 91 fatalities. On April 29 alone, a whopping 880 new infections were recorded.