Hun Sen: Take no shortcuts in preventing spread of virus

Prime Minister Hun Sen has appealed to all citizens to be vigilant and pay greater attention to their health while the country combats Covid-19, even though there have been no cases in the last few days.

In a Facebook post, the prime minister wrote on Tuesday: “Every second and every day, countrymen, please remember to pay greater attention to health, which is your life.”

The prime minister also instructed people to take with them facemasks and sanitisers when they travel. “They have to wear facemasks everywhere and wash hands before and after touching something or objects at the market and in public places for their protection.

“We don’t know whether objects and materials have been touched by others infected with Covid-19. We protect ourselves from spreading the virus to others, and please don’t bring the virus from others to us and our families.

“[The people] must maintain good hygiene regularly and follow the directions of the Ministry of Health always,” he stressed.

Although no new infectious cases have been detected recently, nearly 1,500 workers in Phnom Penh had their health checked and are being kept in quarantine for 14 days after visiting their hometowns during the Khmer New Year.

The Ministry of Labour and Vocational Training said in a press release on Tuesday that on the first day of the quarantine, 1,018 workers received health checks. Of that number, 959 were subjected to a 14-day quarantine.

The press release said 59 workers were put up at two quarantine centres at Hun Sen Champuvoin High School, of which 18 had samples taken for further testing.

“On Tuesday at 11am, 405 workers had their health checked. Of the total, 376 were kept in quarantine for 14 days. Six were put up at the first category quarantine centre and 23 stayed at the second category quarantine centre at the high school,” the ministry said.

Ministry of Labour spokesman Heng Sour could not be reached for comment on the results of the 18 tested workers.

The country has not detected new infectious cases in nine days. As of Tuesday, 122 Covid-19 cases had been recorded. Of those, 110 had recovered. The virus has infected 2.5 million people around the world and killed more than 170,000, according to a Ministry of Health report.

Ngear Chanda, the husband of a factory worker who was subjected to the ministry-imposed quarantine measures at Hun Sen Champuvoin High School, told The Post on Tuesday that his wife had stayed at the centre for two days and underwent health checks along with other workers.

He said the move was good to keep the virus from spreading to others.

“When I visited her, she said it is okay at the centre. There is cooked rice, water, and accommodation. There is no need to be concerned. Her test came back negative and there is nothing suspicious. She just had a fever,” Chanda said.