Cambodia: Covid-19 cases rising and more than 100 cases reported within two days

A man has his sample taken for Covid-19 testing in Phnom Penh last week. - The Phnom Penh Post/ANN

PHNOM PENH, March 13 (Phnom Penh Post/ANN): The Ministry of Health on March 13 reported 39 more case of Covid-19 linked to the February 20 community transmission, bringing the total to 751 in just three weeks.

The 39 include five Vietnamese and five Chinese nationals, with the rest being Cambodian.

Phnom Penh recorded the most cases at 20, followed by Prey Veng at 13, Kandal at five, and one in Preah Sihanouk.

The ministry also announced the recovery of four Covid-19 patients whose cases were linked to the community outbreak.

Cambodia on Friday had also confirmed 62 new cases of Covid-19, raising its total tally to 1,225, said a Ministry of Health (MoH) statement.

The new infections included 60 local cases in Phnom Penh Municipality, and the Kandal, Prey Veng, Koh Kong and Kampong Thom provinces, as well as two imported cases, the statement said.

The imported cases were detected in Indonesian men aged in their 20s arriving in the South-East Asian country from Indonesia on Feb 26, it said, adding that they were found positive with the Covid-19 virus in their second tests on the 13th day of quarantine.

As of March 13, Cambodia had recorded a total of 1,264 Covid-19 cases, with 639 remaining hospitalised and one death.

The ministry noted that it had so far found 12 cases of new Covid-19 variants.

It repeated call for the public, particularly Phnom Penh residents, to remain vigilant as the new variants are spreading fast in Phnom Penh and to provinces.

Ministry spokeswoman Or Vandine urged the public to refrain from gatherings including wedding and religious ceremonies.

"Stay indoor, do not travel and postpone events at this critical time. This will help to minimise infections," she said. - The Phnom Penh Post/ANN