PHNOM PENH, Feb 20 (Phnom Penh Post/ANN): The Ministry of Health on Sunday reported 736 new Covid-19 cases, six of which were imported and all were confirmed to be the Omicron variant.
The ministry also reported 297 recoveries and two new deaths.
As of Sunday (Feb 20), Cambodia had recorded a total of 126,489 Covid-19 cases with 120,462 recoveries and 3,017 fatalities.
Meanwhile, Schools and other educational institutions can shut down for at least a week if any student or teacher is found to have contracted the novel coronavirus, Minister of Education, Youth and Sport has announced as new daily confirmed Covid-19 cases remain on an upward trajectory.
However, classes must continue in an online format with worksheets, videos and other learning materials provided to students, with self-study encouraged, he said.
The education ministry instructs educational institutions to follow Covid-19 rules, taking the Omicron variant into account, to prevent an outbreak and ensure the sustainability of education over the course of the academic year, he added.
The ministry also suggests larger classes be divided into shifts, or arranged for a portion of students to participate online.
“Educational institutions have to find a way to reduce the number of students in class, in order to maintain safe distances and promote hygiene and a good environment in the classroom. They have to organise learning programmes where teachers shorten lessons and prioritise major subjects,” Chuon Naron said.
For low priority subjects, teachers have to instruct student to learn them on their own through provided study materials or at libraries. Educational institutions are to keep track of students’ grades till the end of the academic year.
The minister insisted that all students and educational staff get vaccinated, and said teachers must keep tabs on students’ vaccination status – including booster information – and report figures to the institution’s management for recordkeeping.
The management can request local vaccination committees – from health centres or referral hospitals – to send a team to vaccinate students and teachers on-site, he said.
He also called on educational institutions with children aged 3-4 to encourage their parents or guardians to get them vaccinated.
The national Covid-19 vaccination committee on February 17 announced that medically eligible children aged 3-4 can receive a primary two-dose coronavirus vaccine series starting on February 23 – exclusively with the inactivated virus jabs developed by Chinese firms Sinovac and Sinopharm. - Phnom Penh Post/ANN
Already a subscriber? Log in
Get 20% OFF The Star Digital Access
Cancel anytime. Ad-free. Unlimited access with perks.
