Phnom Penh – The Cambodian government on Thursday issued a one-week ban on civilian travel in and out of Phnom Penh, and between all districts outside the capital.
This the government said was in an effort to limit the spread of COVID-19, local media reported.
The travel restriction order, which will not apply to movement inside the capital city, is in effect from midnight Thursday to April 16, local news outlet VOD reported.
Transportation of goods nationwide will not be restricted, VOD reported, citing the order from Prime Minister Hun Sen.
In addition, travel by civil servants with identification; permitted factory workers; military, emergency and sanitation vehicles; and a group of no more than four people going to a hospital or health centre will not be restricted.
The travel ban comes two days after Cambodia cancelled one of its most widely celebrated public holidays, Khmer New Year, which was set for next week, to limit the spread of COVID-19.
COVID- 19 the potentially fatal respiratory disease caused by the novel coronavirus that originated in China late last year.
During the annual festival, millions typically travel to their home provinces to visit family and friends.
Cambodia has confirmed 118 total COVID-19 infections since January, with more than half of the patients reported as having recovered, No deaths linked to the respiratory disease have been confirmed.
The Health Ministry on Thursday said a Cambodian man who had earlier tested positive for the virus last month, and then was released from quarantine after testing negative, had again tested positive and been hospitalised, according to VOD.
(dpa/NAN)
