Restrictions in border provinces and elsewhere will remain in place for at least another week to try to curb the spread of Covid-19’s Delta variant, while Phnom Penh restrictions including its curfew have also been extended.
In late announcements on Wednesday, the government and Phnom Penh City Hall outlined the continuation of a series of precautionary health measures as Covid-19’s surge continues in neighboring countries.
In two separate statements, City Hall said the city’s restrictions would be extended either by one week or two, with some changes.
The curfew, starting Friday, will start from 10 p.m., one statement says — later than the current start of 9 p.m. It will still end at 3 a.m. The curfew’s extension is for one week, it says.
The same statement also says private gatherings are restricted from 15 people, an apparent increase from the current limit of 10 people. The restriction on gatherings are to be extended for two weeks.
The municipal administration’s other statement details the ongoing closures of schools, entertainment venues including bars and casinos, children’s playgrounds, parks, saunas, liquor stores, theaters and gyms.
Meanwhile, the government extended restrictions nationwide for at least another week until August 19. The Delta variant has now spread to 17 provinces including Phnom Penh municipality, the statement says.
The first 14 days of restrictions “helped to control and delay to a certain level the large-scale community outbreak (Delta). It can be seen that the rate of daily infections of Covid-19 is stable despite the new mutation,” it says.
“Capital and provincial governors throughout the country must continue to adhere to a firm, proactive and responsible approach to combat and prevent the spread of Covid-19 during the resumption of the campaign over the next seven days.”
Thailand is continuing to see almost 20,000 daily infections amid its Delta outbreak. Cambodia is currently seeing about 500 Covid-19 cases and 20 deaths a day.
Correction: An earlier version of this article said borders would remain closed, but the government statement only said that meaures would continue nationwide. It also said Phnom Penh restrictions would be extended for two weeks, but some of the measures have been extended only one week.
