PHNOM PENH, Feb 20 (dpa): Cambodia has locked down parts of its capital Phnom Penh amid a Covid-19 outbreak.
In an address on Saturday morning, Prime Minister Hun Sen said at least 32 cases of coronavirus had been detected in the previous 10 hours.
The Cambodian leader said the outbreak may have started in recent days and authorities were yet to determine the extent the spread.
He said it was first detected when an individual attempted to apply for a safe-to-travel certificate from the Ministry of Health and tested positive for the virus.
Most cases discovered so far were Chinese nationals, according to the Khmer Times, which reported that four Chinese nationals had bribed hotel security guards and fled hotel quarantine.
On Saturday morning, authorities locked down a riverside neighbourhood known as Diamond Island, among other areas.
A central city condo complex has also been restricted after being visited by an individual that later tested positive.
Contact tracing efforts are centring on a nightclub linked to the outbreak called the N8 Club, according to Hun Sen.
Calling it a "very serious situation”, the prime minister said people in lockdown areas would be tested and have to undertake two weeks of quarantine.
The outbreak threatens to undermine the country’s pandemic success story. Since the emergence of Covid, Cambodia has recorded just 484 cases and no deaths. - dpa
In an address on Saturday morning, Prime Minister Hun Sen said at least 32 cases of coronavirus had been detected in the previous 10 hours.
The Cambodian leader said the outbreak may have started in recent days and authorities were yet to determine the extent the spread.
He said it was first detected when an individual attempted to apply for a safe-to-travel certificate from the Ministry of Health and tested positive for the virus.
Most cases discovered so far were Chinese nationals, according to the Khmer Times, which reported that four Chinese nationals had bribed hotel security guards and fled hotel quarantine.
On Saturday morning, authorities locked down a riverside neighbourhood known as Diamond Island, among other areas.
A central city condo complex has also been restricted after being visited by an individual that later tested positive.
Contact tracing efforts are centring on a nightclub linked to the outbreak called the N8 Club, according to Hun Sen.
Calling it a "very serious situation”, the prime minister said people in lockdown areas would be tested and have to undertake two weeks of quarantine.
The outbreak threatens to undermine the country’s pandemic success story. Since the emergence of Covid, Cambodia has recorded just 484 cases and no deaths. - dpa
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