Ministry of Health spokesperson Or Vandine cautioned against carelessness in the fight against Covid-19. Hong Menea
The World Health Organisation (WHO) and government officials said Cambodia is still in the early stages of the Covid-19 pandemic, even though no new cases have been recorded in the last seven days.
Speaking during the weekly press conference on the situation of Covid-19 in the Kingdom, WHO Representative to Cambodia Li Ailan pointed out that different countries were at different stages of the outbreak.
“The Covid-19 pandemic will not be over in any country until it is over in all countries. As of yesterday, a total number of more than 2.2 million cases, including more than 150,000 deaths have been reported to WHO from more than 130 countries and territories, this means this virus kills people.
“In Cambodia, WHO is very pleased to see that we are doing very well in responding to more than 100 cases and congratulations to all of us that we have zero deaths. This is really great news, but Cambodia is in the early stage of this pandemic,” she said.
She said countries like Italy and cities like Wuhan and New York City have seen a large increase of transmissions because they were in the middle of the pandemic stage in which the virus’ spread had already reached the community.
Minister of Health Mam Bun Heng said at the press conference that he urged WHO to prioritise Cambodia should effective medicine and a vaccine to treat Covid-19 be available.
“I appealed to the WHO that when there is an effective medicine to treat Covid-19, please provide it first to Cambodia.
“When there is vaccine acknowledged by the WHO, please provide it to Cambodia on time when the situation is controllable, and there is no community transmission. This would be easy to deal with before it is too late and it has spread to the community,” he said.
As of Monday, the infection tally in Cambodia remains at 122, but only 15 are in the hospital as 107 have recovered. The remaining cases include 10 in Phnom Penh, one each in Preah Sihanouk, Siem Reap, Kep, Banteay Meanchey, and Kampong Chhnang provinces.
Bun Heng said Cambodia has tested 9,792 suspected cases from January to Monday.
Ministry of Health spokesperson Or Vandine said at the press conference: “If we are careless and think that we are out from under Covid-19 and do not protect ourselves tightly, the epidemic and attacks from Covid-19 will come.
“In this fragile situation, we don’t want to see the virus in our community. We are on the red line now.”
Cambodia had closed many types of public and private venues to halt the spread of the disease.
Bun Heng said on Monday that there was no plan to reopen those venues as yet, and the government is still observing the development of the disease in the country and around the world.
“Now, we see some progress, but we are still in a fragile situation because there is transmission from outside and transmission within the country. So the situation is so fragile. As for re-opening venues, let the government decide,” Bun Heng said.
