City Hall can re-impose restrictions if steps are not followed, according to a new curfew notice

Cambodia Compass report, 24th May - If locals or foreigners fail to heed health precautions or the administration's steps to stop the spread of Covid-19, Phnom Penh City Hall will re-impose a curfew.

Governor of Phnom Penh Khuong Sreng said yesterday that if the number of positive virus cases in the capital does not decrease and people are found to be not following the Ministry of Health's instructions to wear face masks, spray alcohol sanitizers, and maintain social distance, he will consider reimposing the curfew.

Sreng also stated that in order to avoid a disease outbreak, he will direct all 14 district authorities to inspect restaurants and entertainment venues to ensure that the preventive measures are being followed.

Sreng said, "I will issue an order for all levels of government to regulate restaurants and entertainment venues to ensure they comply with City Hall's guidelines to eliminate Covid-19 in the capital."

“If the owners of these restaurants follow the instructions, we will allow them to continue their operations. We will take legal action against them immediately if any of them remain stubborn and fail to obey the guidelines,” he added.

Sreng also urged all Phnom Penh residents to enter City Hall's efforts to minimize the number of cases related to the Community Event on February 20.

After City Hall reopened all businesses, Or Vandine, a spokeswoman for the Ministry of Health and Chairwoman of the Covid-19 Vaccination Committee, warned people to be extra vigilant against Covid-19.

“If we don't want to face a lockout, we must take steps to prevent the Covid-19 virus from spreading to people, households, and communities,” she said.

In another trend, 18 inmates at Prey Sar Prison's Correctional Center 1 (CC1) have tested positive for Covid-19, prompting officials to close the prison for two weeks for sample testing.

Prison authorities have quarantined those who tested positive and are tracing those in direct or indirect contact with them, according to Lieutenant General Nuth Savna, a spokesman for the General Department of Prisons.

“Because officials are still working on this case, I have not yet obtained the figure of direct and indirect contacts,” he said.

Lt Gen Savna also reported that over 7,000 inmates at CC1 would be segregated for two weeks, with no visitors permitted. Officials will not be permitted to leave the building.

He went on to say that prison officials are asking the Ministry of Health for more rapid test kits to screen for infections.

He said, "We got over 3,000 rapid test kits from the Health Ministry yesterday, as well as some traditional Chinese medicine to treat patients."

The Preah Sihanouk Provincial Administration reported yesterday that it had discovered 267 new cases of Covid-19.

According to Kheang Phearum, a spokesman for the provincial hall, the majority of the new cases involved garment factory employees in Sihanoukville's Prey Nop district's special economic region.

He also stated that authorities in Sihanoukville agreed to redesignate Orange Zones as Yellow Zones during a meeting held yesterday.

The number of Covid-19 cases in Sihanoukville has decreased since the steps were implemented, according to Phearum.

“We haven't been able to assess how to stop transmissions as a result of the February 20 event,” he said, adding that the provincial administration is currently working on contact tracing to stop the spread.

Phearum urged traders and residents who had direct contact with people infected with Covid-19 to notify local authorities as soon as possible, provide samples at the Prampi Makara center, and quarantine themselves for 14 days, as directed by the Ministry of Health.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Health reported 560 new Covid-19 cases yesterday, taking the total number of cases in the Kingdom to 25,205. 15 of the new cases are imported, while the remainder are connected to the Community Event on February 20.

The ministry also revealed that nine more people have died as a result of Covid-19, taking the total number of people who have died to 176.

At the same time, the ministry recorded 537 new recoveries, bringing the total number in the Kingdom to 17,701.

Source: Cambodia Compass comprehensive arrangement

Editor: Malinda         Chief Editor: Sunnie         General in Chief/Executive Producer: Nicole

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