Phnom Penh governor Khuong Sreng has announced an 8 p.m. curfew in the capital from Thursday through April 14 amid the country’s worst Covid-19 outbreak to date, ordering a halt to gatherings and road traffic at night.
In a statement issued Thursday, Sreng said restaurants, cafes and bars must not allow customers on their premises from 8 p.m. through 5 a.m., though they can still pack food for delivery.
All road traffic within the municipality is banned from 8 p.m. till 5 a.m. except travel for urgent health reasons, commutes for workers at businesses allowed to continue operating, the travel of health officers, the fire service and armed forces, waste collection and delivery services, including for food.
Gatherings are also not allowed after 8 p.m. except by co-inhabitants of the same residences, specifically permitted funerals, and emergency and official work such as Covid-19 testing.
The measures apply through April 14, and violations can be punished under the Covid-19 Law, which sets out jail terms for infractions.
The Health Ministry on Thursday reported 37 new cases of Covid-19, including 30 locally transmitted cases in Phnom Penh, and 49 new recoveries in the capital and Kandal and Preah Sihanouk provinces.
The ministry has reported more than 1,200 active coronavirus cases.
Additional reporting by Samoeun Nicseybon
