Army is leading the charge for the Covid-19 vaccination emergency in the Red Zone

On the night of 27th, Prime Minister Hun Sen agreed to accept Defense Minister Tea Banh's proposal to consider a priority vaccination campaign for Phnom Penh's Red Zones, and the army medical corps is expected to be able to begin the intensive vaccination campaign in these zones by May 5.

“We now have more than 1 million doses of the vaccine, which can be given to more than 500,000 people,” Mr Hun Sen said in an audio message. “As a result, it should be sent to the Red Zones. We have 3 million people in Phnom Penh and Kandal who need 6 million vaccine doses. Each individual requires two doses.”

“Now we have to use the military to do this job in the Red Zones in four different districts,” he said. “Make it impossible for people to leave the Red Zone in order to receive vaccinations. The army will enter the Red Zone and administer vaccines without worrying about where the people are coming from; all they need to do is administer the vaccines. It must be handled, however, in a systematic manner. To ensure that everybody is vaccinated, travel from village to village in centers coordinated by village administrations.”

We can begin the national vaccination campaign in this red zone before May 5, according to Samdech Techo. “Activate all army units to vaccinate anyone over the age of 18, including foreigners.”

The vaccine that is expected to arrive today, as well as the rest of the vaccines, will be left in Phnom Penh for use in the Red Field, which is the army's main entry point.

The Phnom Penh Capital Administration released a decision on April 27, 2021, to divide the city into three color zones: red, yellow, and orange. Nine communes in five districts make up the Red Zone, 41 communes in 14 districts make up the Yellow Zone, and 66 communes in 13 districts make up the Yellow Region (except Meanchey district).

The red zone is divided into nine communes, according to the decision:

1. Khan Toul Kork: Village 14, Village 16 and Village 17 in Sangkat Boeung Salang.

2. Khan Dangkor: Prey Sar commune's Prakar village, and Dangkor commune's Mol, Thmey, and Sambo villages.

3. Khan Meanchey: Sangkat Steung Meanchey I, Sangkat Steung Meanchey II, Sangkat Steung Meanchey III and Sangkat Boeung Tumpun I.

4. Khan Por Sen Chey: Sangkat Choam Chao I

5. Khan Russey Keo: Sangkat Toul Sangke I

Many people who are not affected, contaminated, or anywhere near an affected area but identified as residing in the Red Zone have no knowledge or details about the status because many of them are at work with official permission from the relevant authorities.

Many fear that this will be the final straw for their employers, who are considering permanently closing their companies due to mounting losses caused by the curfew, lockout, and now the expansion of the lockdowns, as well as the color coding, which is clearly daunting for the general public and the business community.