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Following the government's decision to reduce quarantine for immunised visitors to seven or three days, government-approved hotels in Phnom Penh have launched new packages for fully vaccinated visitors. In Phnom Penh, there are now 7 Alternative State Quarantine (ASQ) hotels available for booking. 1. Courtyard by Marriott Hotel 2. Sokha Hotel & Residence 3. Raffles Hotel Le Royal PP 4. Sofitel Phnom Penh Phokeethra 5. Himawari Hotel Apartments 6. Toyoko Inn with Dara 7. Olympia City Hotel By Dara Starting at $1,575, the Sofitel Phnom Penh Phokeethra provides a seven-night package that includes two Covid PCR testing. Its three-night package includes one test and costs $780. Breakfast, lunch, and dinner are all included in both packages. A seven-day package with three meals at the Courtyard by Marriott Hotel starts at $1,275 for foreigners and $995 for Cambodians. The costs are $1,095 and $880, respectively, for only breakfast. For foreigners, the three-day breakfast only package costs $475, while for Cambodians, it costs $355. From $1,500 for seven days and three meals at Raffles Hotel Le Royal PP, or $1,350 for breakfast only at Raffles Hotel Le Royal PP. The kit includes two Covid PCR tests. The three-day package costs $720, or $660 if you only want breakfast. A single PCR test is included in both agreements. Packages including breakfast, lunch, and dinner start at $105 per night at Sokha Phnom Penh Residence. Quarantine packages at Himawari Hotel Apartments were formerly only available to foreign diplomats and UN and NGOs officials with Diplomatic Visa A, but they are now open to all visa holders. Dara Properties announced the addition of their Olympia City Hotel By Dara and Toyoko Inn with Dara hotels to the Alternative State Quarantine list yesterday. Diplomats, officers of official cooperation projects, returning public servants and their families, investors, local specialists, and foreign experts with an invitation letter or guarantor are all exempt from quarantine under new regulations that took effect on October 18. Other fully vaccinated foreign and domestic travelers must quarantine for seven days. Visitors who have not been vaccinated or who have only been vaccinated once must still be quarantined for 14 days. Arrivals who do not book one of the above hotels are automatically transferred to one of a variety of quarantine hotels, some of which enable tourists to skip meals in exchange for a partial refund. Visitors who do not have a hotel reservation must carry $600 in cash for a three-day quarantine, $1,000 for a seven-day quarantine, or $2,000 for a two-week quarantine. Before traveling, all visitors must obtain a visa, and tourists may now apply for 30-day visas online. A negative PCR test, stamped by a doctor and provided no more than 72 hours prior to arrival in Phnom Penh, is also required, as is proof of at least $50,000 in medical insurance purchased on the Forte Insurance website and printed in color. Cambodia is currently served only by direct flights from Singapore, South Korea, and China. Prime Minister Hun Sen suggested on Friday that Thailand, Malaysia, the Philippines, and Indonesia should be included to the list. Source: Khmer News

As Cambodia moves closer to ‘reopening,' the country has seen its lowest daily new case total since April 8th, part of a remarkable 25-day stretch of ‘new normal' low case counts. The official daily new COVID case count for today was 116, increasing the total number of COVID cases to 117,888. PM Hun Sen stated 17 days ago, on the 8th of October, that Cambodia will be able to resume its economy across all sectors if the Covid-19 situation following Pchum Ben remains stable for at least 10 days, stating: "If the situation does not improve in the next 10 to 15 days, I believe it is necessary to reopen the economy and society in all areas under the new normal paradigm," he said. Last week's surprising developments, such as the re-opening of the e-Visa scheme for tourists and investors, the relaxation of the quarantine period for incoming travellers, the lifting of the ban on flights from Malaysia, Indonesia, and the Philippines, and the introduction of a new QR code system for checking vaccination status, demonstrate the Royal Government's general determination to reopen the Kingdom for business as soon as it is safe to do so. Thailand, Singapore, and Vietnam, the Kingdom's ASEAN neighbors, have all announced significant loosening of restrictions on travelers from Cambodia and a variety of other countries. It's safe to expect that Cambodia will soon follow suit and ease admission criteria even more. In this mood of broad joy over the imminent reopening of the country, however, a note of caution must be struck. COVID has not vanished – far from it – and, while Cambodia is significantly better prepared to handle with the pandemic threat than many other nations due to widespread immunization, it remains a devastating – albeit hopefully controlled – threat. Instead, Cambodians must focus on adapting to the 'new normal,' rather than expecting the Kingdom to revert to life as it was pre-COVID. With 19,536 instances being imported, the total number of Community Cases is now 98,352. Today, 17 imported cases were revealed, keeping the pattern of few imported cases going. Cambodia also revealed 9 more deaths, bringing the total number of COVID-19-related deaths in Cambodia to 2743. As active cases decreased, 287 recoveries were announced, bringing the total number of active COVID cases in Cambodia to 1,874. The strategy of limited fast testing for COVID-19, which is the first step in shifting away from the pandemic to the 'endemic stage' of the COVID-19 issue, is linked to the dramatic decrease in reported cases. However, this restriction has significantly reduced the number of cases recorded, and when combined with the current policy of not providing any provincial or 'Delta' numbers, it is now difficult to determine the exact extent of COVID in Cambodia. Source: Khmer News Discover Cigna’s range of health insurance solutions created for expats and local nationals living in Thailand - click to view

The Ministry of Education stated Monday that public and private schools across the country will resume on November 1. To prevent diseases in the classrooms while students are learning, all schools must strictly follow the Covid-19 guidelines given out by the Ministry of Health. According to the ministry, in order for schools to reopen, each classroom must only allow 15 to 20 pupils to study at a time, and if there are more kids registered, they must take turns studying in class. Because it is easier to maintain social distance, they are limited to only 15 to 20 pupils each classroom. The ministry also stated that food will not be sold inside schools in order to protect returning pupils and employees. Regular hand cleaning with alcohol gel and the wearing of face masks, both before entering the school grounds and throughout the day, are also important for healthy learning. These rules will protect those in society who are most at risk of consequences as a result of the virus's infection. “Unvaccinated instructors will not be allowed to teach in the classroom, but they will be able to teach online from home,” says the ministry. Principals should advise students to get vaccinated as soon as possible, according to the statement. The government also asked parents and stakeholders to send face masks, sanitation gel, and other Covid-19 protective goods to schools to help with the virus's prevention. If a positive Covid-19 infection is detected in a classroom, all pupils and teachers must be quarantined for 14 days, and the classroom must be closed, according to the government. Other classrooms at the same school may continue to study, but only under the close supervision of Covid-19. Universities and educational institutes may also reopen, according to the government, but they must first get authorization from the ministry. To be allowed to reopen, they will have to submit an extremely thorough account of the precautionary measures they propose to take. Grades 9 to 12 were permitted to request for authorization to resume on September 15, subject to rigorous adherence to health precautions to avoid the spread of Covid-19. Prime Minister Hun Sen asked the Ministry of Education in late September to authorize the reopening of public and state universities across Cambodia following the reopening of those grades.

Hun Sen, Cambodia's Prime Minister, has directed ministries and institutions to investigate the prospect of restarting flights to Cambodia from ASEAN member nations such as Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia, and the Philippines in order to accept visitors and investors. At a meeting of the Council of Ministers, this directive was given. The Prime Minister stated that certain nations do not have aviation links with Cambodia, but that some countries, such as Malaysia, Indonesia, and the Philippines, have banned Cambodia to flights because to the 19 cases of COVID. According to the PM, flights to and from Cambodia are currently available from Singapore, China, and South Korea, but now that Thailand is allowing Cambodians to enter their nation without quarantine, Cambodia may also welcome visitors from Thailand. "We need to look at the potential of reopening the air route from Kuala Lumpur, Jakarta, or any other point in Indonesia and the Philippines to Cambodia, which we have managed successfully for the airport," the PM added. "We've also cut the time it takes for catalysts to become a part of the attraction, which might lead to the reopening of safe tourism or vaccination tourism," she says.

Cambodia has reported its lowest daily new case total since April 8th, as the country moves closer to'reopening,' with Prime Minister Hun Sen making numerous major pronouncements today on the country's return to 'normalcy.' The official daily new COVID case total for today was 148, increasing the overall number of COVID cases to 117,500. The PM said 15 days ago, on the 8th of October, that Cambodia will be able to restart its economy across all sectors if the Covid-19 situation following Pchum Ben remained stable for at least 10 days, saying: "If the situation does not improve in the next 10 to 15 days, I believe it is necessary to reopen the economy and society in all areas under the new normal paradigm," he said. Cambodia now appears to be returning to a 'new normal,' as evidenced by the re-opening of the e-Visa scheme for tourists and investors, the relaxation of the quarantine period for incoming travellers, a new QR code system for checking vaccination status, and a general determination by the Royal Government to re-open the Kingdom for business as soon as it is safe to do so. The declaration on November 1st of a complete reopening of all educational institutions only adds to this. Thailand said that any vaccinated national from 46 countries wishing to enter Thailand for commercial or other purposes will be allowed to enter without quarantine. Today, the Prime Minister directed officials to look into resuming ASEAN flights, which might lead to 'vaccine tourism.' He also stated that if COVID outbreaks are discovered in schools, marketplaces, or factories, there will be no further closures. Despite the encouraging indicators of'reopening,' Phnom Penh City Hall has issued a warning about planned Halloween celebrations next week, stressing that karaoke and clubs are still prohibited, and that if they open their business, they will be breaking the law. With 19,473 instances being imported, the total number of Community Cases is now 98,027. Today, 22 imported cases were announced while the number of imported cases seemed to be dwindling. Cambodia also revealed 11 further deaths, bringing the total number of COVID-19-related deaths in Cambodia to 2715. As active cases decreased, 327 recoveries were announced, bringing the total number of active COVID cases in Cambodia to 2,395 cases. The new policy of limited quick testing for COVID-19, which is the first step in transitioning away from the pandemic to the endemic stage of the COVID-19 issue, is linked to the dramatic decrease in reported cases. However, this new approach has significantly reduced the number of reported cases, and when combined with the current policy of not providing any provincial or 'Delta' numbers, it is now difficult to determine the exact extent of COVID in Cambodia. Discover Cigna’s range of health insurance solutions created for expats and local nationals living in Thailand - click to view

Due to the Covid-19 pandemic and lockdown limitations, the Boat Racing Festival in Vientiane Capital has been canceled this year. Authorities have forbidden any sort of boat racing in the capital this year, according to a notification published by the Vientiane Capital Department of Education and Sports. Simultaneously, the Fire Boat Festival and boat races held along the Mekong River at Sithan Neua Village in Vientiane Capital's Sikhottabong District have been canceled. Meanwhile, authorities led by Mr. Douangta Soulivong, the Head of Chanthabouly District, staged a ceremony yesterday to inform old spirits that the Vientiane Capital boat racing event had been canceled. Last year's Boat Racing Festival was held in Vientiane Capital from October 1 to 3, with a smaller fleet than prior years due to fears about the conoravirus. The Vientiane Boat Racing Festival is Laos' largest and most important boat racing event, held each year at the end of Buddhist Lent. The races will usually start downstream of Sithan Neua Village and end at Vat Chan temple, as is customary. Meanwhile, due to tight restrictions, the End of Buddhist Lent and the Fire Boat Festival in Luang Prabang Province have been canceled this year.

This year, Laos' State Audit Organization and State Inspection Authority discovered enormous losses totaling over LAK 1.5 trillion and USD 147,387. According to sources in the Socio-Economic Newspaper, the two inspection authorities recently declared that they had identified corruption-related losses reaching trillions of kip this year. Authorities were able to retrieve around LAK 32 billion, USD 116,896, and 19 plots of land during their investigation. The State Inspection Authority announced that it had examined 24 suspects, 16 of them were government officials, and discovered losses totaling LAK 208 billion, Baht 331 million, and USD 14.3 million. A total of 191 state investment projects worth over LAK 2 trillion were also probed, with 50 projects going missing, resulting in a loss of LAK 520 billion. Authorities also confiscated 290 tons of illegal timber and arrested 25 persons for logging violations, while the State Audit Organization investigated 2,788 unlawfully built timber processing businesses, shutting down 1,636 of them. In 2020, Laos was ranked third most corrupt country in the ASEAN region, after Myanmar and Cambodia, however the country's standing has improved by eight points from 2012.

Today, 392 new instances of Covid-19 have been reported across Laos, with two new deaths. Over the last 24 hours, 6,579 tests were completed around the country, with 392 new cases verified, according to the National Taskforce for Covid-19 Prevention and Control. Across the country, there were 389 cases of community spread and three imported cases. New Deaths A 71-year-old woman from Kaysone Phomvihane City, Savannakhet Province, died in a field hospital yesterday after being vaccinated against Covid-19 with the Johnson and Johnson vaccine. She had diabetes and had been inoculated against Covid-19 with the Johnson and Johnson vaccine. Meanwhile, a 50-year-old man from Somsanga Village in Saysettha District, Vientiane, died in 103 Hospital yesterday. He had received two doses of the Sinopharm Covid-19 vaccine and had previously been treated for tuberculosis. Community Spread in Vientiane Capital: Vientiane Capital recorded 158 cases across 71 villages in nine districts. – Saysettha District recorded 33 cases in 16 villages. – Chanthabouly District recorded 18 cases across six villages. – Naxaythong District recorded seven cases across three villages. – Hatsaifong District recorded 11 cases across five villages. – Sikhottabong District recorded 36 cases across 16 villages. – Sisattanak District recorded 17 cases across nine villages. – Xaythany District recorded 19 cases across 13 villages. – Sangthong District recorded two cases across two villages. – Pak Ngum District recorded one case across one village. 14 more cases are now under investigation. Community Spread by Province: In Luang Prabang Province, a total of 44 cases of community spread were recorded, with ten cases in Nambak District. In Luang Prabang City there were 26 cases. Pak Ou District saw five cases, while three cases were found in Ngoi District. In Bokeo Province only one case was recorded. In Savannakhet Province, there were 25 cases, including 23 in Kaysone Phomvihane City, and two in Champhone District. In Vientiane Province, there were 99 cases recorded, with 42 in Keooudom, three in Vangkham, 16 in Phonhong, seven in Thoulakhom, and 29 in Kasi District. Champasack Province saw seven cases today, with five in Pakse City, one in Pachiangchaleunsouk, and one in Pathoumphone District. Khammouane Province saw 28 cases, with 11 in Thakhek and 17 in Khounkham District. Total Cases: Laos now has 6,985 active cases of Covid-19, with 49 confirmed deaths, and 33,998 total cases. Meanwhile, 725 people recovered and were discharged from hospitals around the country yesterday.

On October 21, 2021, the Ministry of Education, Youth, and Sports released a directive announcing the reopening of all public and private educational institutions at all levels beginning November 1, 2021. Although the decision allows for the widespread reopening of all types of educational institutions across the country, the in-person restriction on teachers over 50 and those who have not been vaccinated remains in place. The following is an unofficial translation of the directive's main points: The Ministry found the following after examining the teaching and learning process in public and private educational institutions in low-risk areas: 1) Roughly 30% of educational institutions have begun to operate in compliance with the recommendations. 2) Involvement of all stakeholders to ensure a safe and thorough educational process 3) Since the educational institution's launch, we've been able to test and find favorable COVID-19 in both the teaching staff and a small group of students. 4) Positive COVID-19 cases on instructors and students in the 7 days leading up to Pchum Ben and the 7 days following Pchum Ben were few and manageable. COVID-19 vaccination was given to parents, guardians, instructors, and kids in high doses. Moving towards a new regular education procedure in the context of COVID-19 will commence on November 1, 2021, based on this. For public and private educational institutions at all levels, the Ministry will broaden the scope of teaching and learning in colleges. In every province. Extending from ninth and twelfth grades to all secondary levels, as well as primary, public and private higher education institutions, National Institutes of Education, Institutes of Technology, Teacher Training Institutions, Special Education Institutions, practical schools and high schools, general education and technical education, in strict compliance with applicable health standards, is part of the expansion. Teachers over 50 should consider teaching online or distributing worksheets. Teachers who have not been vaccinated against COVID-19 are not permitted to teach in schools and are encouraged to get vaccinated at Ministry of Health-approved facilities.

For international tourists who have been properly vaccinated against COVID-19, the Ministry of Health has developed a standard operating practice. This codifies the decision made on October 16, 2021, to change the travel requirements and provide for tourists who have received the full basic vaccination to enter Cambodia at all entrances. The following is a summary of the 16th ruling and the revised quarantine periods: * A special rule must be applied to official guests of the Royal Government and senior officials of the Royal Government who return from missions abroad, as determined by the Royal Government in each case. * Three days for investors, technical personnel from Cambodia and abroad, diplomats, officials from official cooperation projects, and government officials returning from missions overseas (including family members) * For general travelers, whether Cambodians or foreigners, 7 days * 14 days for all sorts of travelers who have not been fully vaccinated or who have not been fully vaccinated against COVID-19. Both Cambodian and foreign tourists entering Cambodia who have been fully vaccinated against COVID 19 have been given top priority by the Royal Government of Cambodia, while those who have not been fully vaccinated should continue to do so. For the same 14 days, you'll be quarantined.

As Cambodia gets closer to reopening, the country's daily new case number has dropped to its lowest level since April 6th. The official daily new COVID case total for today was 151, increasing the overall number of COVID cases to 117,352. PM Hun Sen said 14 days ago, on the 8th of October, that Cambodia will be able to restart its economy across all sectors if the Covid-19 situation following Pchum Ben remains stable for at least 10 days, saying: "If the situation does not improve in the next 10 to 15 days, I believe it is necessary to reopen the economy and society in all areas under the new normal paradigm," he said. Cambodia now appears to be returning to a 'new normal,' as evidenced by the re-opening of the e-Visa scheme for tourists and investors, the relaxation of the quarantine period for incoming travellers, a new QR code system for checking vaccination status, and a general determination by the Royal Government to re-open the Kingdom for business as soon as it is safe to do so. Anthony Galliano, president of the American Chamber of Commerce (AMCHAM), told Khmer Times: "The return of the tourist E-visa sends a message to the rest of the world that the Kingdom is gradually opening up again." Since the introduction of COVID, the suspension of tourist visas has destroyed the sector. This is a ray of light for the hospitality industry, yet inbound tourist travel is likely to remain halted because adding seven days of quarantine to any vacation is still unworkable. "The good news is that there is now a process in place for tourism visas, and they are once again available." As neighboring neighbors' immunization rates catch up with Cambodia's, the quarantine duration is expected to be decreased in the near future." With 19,451 instances being imported, the total number of Community Cases is now 97,901. Today, 21 imported cases were announced while the number of imported cases seemed to be dwindling. Cambodia also revealed 11 new deaths, bringing the total number of COVID-19-related deaths in Cambodia to 2704. As active cases decreased, 366 recoveries were announced, bringing the total number of active COVID cases in Cambodia to 2585. This sharp decline in reported cases is linked to a new strategy of limited COVID-19 fast testing, which is the first step in moving the COVID-19 issue from pandemic to endemic status. However, this new approach has significantly reduced the number of reported cases, and when combined with the current policy of not providing any provincial or 'Delta' numbers, it is now difficult to determine the exact extent of COVID in Cambodia. Discover Cigna’s range of health insurance solutions created for expats and local nationals living in Thailand - click to view

Laos' government is considering replacing Party and government leaders' gasoline cars with electric vehicles. Authorities have been debating the purchase of electric vehicles for senior Lao officials as part of cost-cutting measures as the Party strives to implement its austerity policy, according to a report from the Ministry of Finance. Background on electric vehicles, including types, brands, and technical specifications, as well as the vehicle power calculation unit, were discussed. The amount of electric vehicles available for purchase, as well as an auction process for disposing off the current fleet of state gasoline vehicles, are all being considered. Dr. Phankham Viphavanh, the Prime Minister of Laos, told the National Assembly in August that the government would cut spending on state vehicles, claiming that the country currently has thousands of vehicles registered to it and that he would issue a decree regulating the use of vehicles by government agencies very soon. Meanwhile, the Government of Laos adopted a new policy this month to promote electric vehicles, with the hopes of reducing fuel imports and emissions in the country. Electric vehicles are projected to account for 1% of all autos in Laos by 2025, and over 30% by 2030.

For the sixteenth time this year, Laos' government has raised fuel prices, pushing the price of ordinary gasoline to LAK 11,790 per liter. The price of V-power gasoline in Vientiane Capital has risen to LAK 13,620 per liter, according to a notice released by the Ministry of Industry and Commerce yesterday, while standard gasoline has risen to LAK 11,790 per liter. Diesel gasoline has also been raised in price, now costing LAK 10,300 per liter. This is the seventeenth price increase this year, and the second this month. During the Coronavirus outbreak, the cost of life in the country, including food and other commodities, has continued to grow, providing a hardship for local citizens, particularly those with low incomes. The price of gasoline has grown significantly this year, according to a resident of Vientiane Capital who told the Laotian Times today that it is at its greatest level in comparison to prior years. "I don't have a choice because I have to go to work every day," the man explained, "but I'm hoping the government can find a solution to this problem as soon as possible." Another resident of Dongdok Village in Vientiane's Xaythany District said she was hard struck by two price hikes in a month. "I'd like to take the bus to work to save money on gas," the woman explained, "but there are no buses available during the Covid-19 outbreak, and cab or Tuk-Tuk costs are just as expensive." "Not only have fuel prices grown, but so have food, product, and other consumer goods prices; if the government does not address this issue seriously, our lives will become more difficult in the future," she continued.

After trending lower over the prior four days, Vientiane Capital has seen a substantial surge in Covid-19 instances today, reaching 439 cases. Today, the country saw 635 new cases of Covid-19, with 5,710 tests completed in the last 24 hours, according to the National Taskforce for Covid-19 Prevention and Control. Across the country, there were 628 cases of community spread and seven imported cases. New Deaths An 83-year-old woman from Vientiane Capital's Naxaythong District died of Covid-19 at Mittaphab Hospital yesterday afternoon. She had not been immunized against Covid-19 and had hypertension and arrhythmia. A 63-year-old man from Vientiane Capital's Sangthong District died at 103 Hospital yesterday after suffering from diabetes and hypertension. He'd been given a Covid-19 vaccine. Community Spread in Vientiane Capital: Vientiane Capital recorded 439 cases across 82 villages in nine districts. – Saysettha District recorded 131 cases in 16 villages (96 cases at a prison). – Chanthabouly District recorded 22 cases across seven villages. – Naxaythong District recorded two cases across two villages. – Hatsaifong District recorded 13 cases across eight villages. – Sikhottabong District recorded 32 cases across 13 villages. – Sisattanak District recorded 149 cases across nine villages (128 cases at a military academy). – Xaythany District recorded 77 cases across 24 villages. – Sangthong District recorded three cases across two villages. – Pak Ngum District recorded four cases across one village. Six more cases are now under investigation. Community Spread by Province: In Luang Prabang Province, a total of 72 cases of community spread were recorded, with two cases in Nambak District. In Luang Prabang City there were 48 cases. Pak Ou District saw ten cases, six cases in Nan District, two in Chomphet District, three in Phou Khoun District, and Phonxay District saw only one case. In Bokeo Province there were two cases, one in Houayxay and one in PhaOudom District. In Savannakhet Province, there were 13 cases, including seven in Kaysone Phomvihane City, two in Outhoumphone, two in Champhone, one in Phalanxay, and one in Sepon District. In Vientiane Province, there were 39 cases recorded, with nine in Keooudom, two in Vangkham, 22 in Phonhong, five in Vang Vieng and one in Hinherb District. Champasack Province saw 18 cases today, with four in Pakse City, six in Champasack, three in Pachiangchaleunsouk, three in Pathoumphone, and two in Phonthong District. Khammouane Province saw 19 cases, with nine in Thakhek and ten in Khounkham District. Total Cases: Laos now has 7,093 active cases of Covid-19, with 47 confirmed deaths, and 33,606 total cases. Meanwhile, 601 people recovered and were discharged from hospitals around the country yesterday.

A foreigner living in Kampot has been charged with assaulting police, and it has been revealed that he is wanted by authorities in his own country and may have completed a prison sentence in the United Kingdom for a £2 million theft. Raivo Loige, a 38-year-old Estonian man, was arrested after a car accident on National Road 33 at Chum Kreal Market in Chum Kreal Village, Chum Kreal Commune, Teuk Chhou District on October 19, 2021. Loige was accused of driving while inebriated and, when negotiating compensation for the owner of the car he had hit, attacked and injured members of the Kampot police force. Continue reading: https://www.khmertimeskh.com/50955570/foriegn-national-arrested-for-violence-against-police-is-wanted-by-authorities-in-own-country/ Source: Khmer Times

Just four days after announcing a quarantine period for various categories of vaccinated and unvaccinated travelers, the government yesterday opted to reinstate e-visas for all visitors to Cambodia. While adhering to the new Covid-19 quarantine entrance standards, this is certainly good news for many foreigners who have been waiting to visit Cambodia for various reasons. Those intending to visit Cambodia can now apply for an e-visa, according to Foreign Affairs Ministry spokeswoman Koy Kuong. He did say, however, that they have no intentions to restart the Visa on Arrival program at this time. General Department of Immigration spokesman General Keo Vannthan said yesterday that the government has yet to grant the Visa on Arrival, despite the Health Ministry's new guidelines on quarantine stay for various categories of people returning or coming from overseas, which include the mandatory requirement of producing a negative PCR test result within 72 hours and a vaccination card/certificate. "We enable access in compliance with the new requirements and must implement health precautions as advised by health officials for countries that have a visa waiver agreement with Cambodia," he added. To now, 33 countries, nine of which are Asean members, do not require visas for 30 days, with the exception of officials and those with diplomatic passports, who are exempt for 24 days. "We have a policy in the works to reopen borders with adjacent nations," Vannthan stated, "but it has to be approved by them (neighboring countries)." Last year, entry visas and tourist arrivals were briefly banned to avoid the spread of the deadly illness, according to the Immigration Police. According to the Health Ministry's newest notification, travelers who are completely vaccinated must quarantine for only seven days and pay a $1,000 deposit to cover expenditures spent during their stay in the selected hotels. President of the Cambodia Association of Travel Agents, Chhay Sivlin, told Khmer Times yesterday that the government's decision to shorten the quarantine time and reopen the issuing of e-visas to international visitors was a positive one. "It's a positive indicator that things are returning to normal, and it's also an excellent method to encourage airlines to fly customers to Cambodia." "It's a good marketing approach," Sivlin stated. Sivlin went on to say that they expect a slew of visitors and investors to flood Cambodia for a variety of reasons, and that "I am confident the government will not make it difficult for them to come with all of the loosening of criteria."

As Cambodia gets closer to reopening, the country's daily new case number has dropped to its lowest level since April 6th. The official daily new COVID case count for today was 166, increasing the overall number of COVID cases to 117,201. PM Hun Sen said 13 days ago, on the 8th of October, that Cambodia will be able to restart its economy across all sectors if the Covid-19 situation following Pchum Ben remains stable for at least 10 days, saying: "If the situation does not improve in the next 10 to 15 days, I believe it is necessary to reopen the economy and society in all areas under the new normal paradigm," he said. Cambodia now appears to be returning to a 'new normal,' as evidenced by the re-opening of the e-Visa scheme for tourists and investors, the relaxation of the quarantine period for incoming travellers, a new QR code system for checking vaccination status, and a general determination by the Royal Government to re-open the Kingdom for business as soon as it is safe to do so. Cambodia seemed to have moved on from the dreadful 'February 20th' tragedy, in which the entire country was ground to a halt by the selfish actions of two individuals. However, a note of caution must be sounded: the threat of COVID still hangs over Cambodia's head like the Sword of Damocles. Today's revelations that illegal migrant workers are still sneaking across the border in Battambang despite restrictions must raise alarm bells, especially given the current uptick in instances in Thailand. With 19,430 instances being imported, the total number of Community Cases is now 97,771. Today, 31 imported cases were announced while the number of imported cases seemed to be dwindling. Cambodia also revealed 12 more deaths, bringing the total number of COVID-19-related deaths in Cambodia to 2,693. As active cases decreased, 270 recoveries were announced, bringing the total number of active COVID cases in Cambodia to 2,811. This sharp decline in reported cases is linked to a new strategy of limited COVID-19 fast testing, which is the first step in moving the COVID-19 issue from pandemic to endemic status. However, this new approach has significantly reduced the number of reported cases, and when combined with the current policy of not providing any provincial or 'Delta' numbers, it is now difficult to determine the exact extent of COVID in Cambodia. There was certainly an upward tendency in The Kingdom, but the previous 20 days' results have completely reversed this upward trend, as shown in the graph below (please note that results may be up to 2 days behind): Cambodians are betting on the Royal Government's immunization program, which has been dubbed the "Cambodian vaccination miracle" and is depicted in the graph below. Cambodia not only has a considerably higher vaccination rate than Thailand, Laos, and Vietnam, but it has also surpassed practically every major country in the globe, including China, France, the United Kingdom, the United States, and Germany. Discover Cigna’s range of health insurance solutions created for expats and local nationals living in Thailand - click to view

Due to tight restrictions, the End of Buddhist Lent and the Fire Boat Festival in Luang Prabang Province have been canceled this year. Celebrations celebrating the conclusion of Buddhist Lent and the Fire Boat Festival have been canceled, according to a notice published yesterday by Luang Prabang Provincial Governor Mr. Viengthong Hatsachanh. The customary practice of making merit through almsgiving at the end of Buddhist Lent will not be authorized in the province, according to the announcement. The Phra That Chomsi festival, as well as the Visoun Temple and Fire Boat Festival, have been halted by authorities. Residents in the province of Luang Prabang will not be allowed to leave their homes for Loy Krathong, an annual tradition of floating votives along rivers or lakes. The Fire Boat Festival and the End of Buddhist Lent are two prominent events that take place in Luang Prabang every year with three days of festivities, which set it apart from other provinces in the country. After a rise in the spread of Covid-19, the province of Luang Prabang went into complete lockdown on the 7th of October.

Fisheries in the Lower Mekong Basin are being stressed by overfishing and habitat degradation induced by fast population increase, infrastructural development, and climate change, while changes in the Basin's aquatic ecosystems are having an impact on social conditions. This was covered in two Mekong River Commission (MRC) papers released today, which show that fishing remains a vital source of income in Cambodia, Laos, Thailand, and Vietnam. The two reports, "Status and Trends of Fish Abundance and Diversity in the Lower Mekong Basin from 2007 to 2018" (FADM) and "Social Impact Monitoring and Vulnerability Assessment 2018" (SIMVA), showed that households continue to rely on water resources that are becoming increasingly strained. “These studies emphasize the significance of responsible development, balancing regional and national interests, and stronger regional collaboration to protect Mekong River water and related resources,” said Dr. An Pich Hatda, Chief Executive Officer of the Mekong River Commission. Both findings urge that fish stocks be conserved in order to ensure food supplies for the millions of people who live in the LMB and to prevent future revenue erosion. In comparison to 2013, 35 percent of 2,800 polled households said their income was lower, 32 percent said it was the same, and only 26 percent said their income increased slightly, while 6 percent said it increased greatly, according to the SIMVA 2018. Affecting incomes are adverse changes in water resources, which include agriculture, aquaculture, fish, other aquatic animals, and plants, with roughly 22% of families reporting that the issue has impacted them. Other non-water-related livelihoods, such as gainful work, business, or trading, are becoming more significant, and may lessen vulnerability to changes in the Mekong water supplies. The two findings warn that there is still much room for improvement, with policy implications for governments, if communities are to be safeguarded from water and climate-related risks. Using the MRC's long-term fisheries monitoring data, the 138-page FADM is the first-ever large-scale research to evaluate both regional and temporal fluctuations of fish abundance and diversity in the LMB. Fishing communities were found to be disrupted in practically all zones of the LMB, according to the study. Catch rates decreased at two of the four and three of the five stations surveyed in Laos and Vietnam, respectively. To restore distressed fishing communities, the report advises governments of the four MRC Member Countries to enforce national fisheries regulations and collaboratively implement the authorized Mekong Basin-wide Fisheries Management and Development Strategy. It also suggests incorporating river management strategies to counter the risks associated with increased hydropower production. Professional fishermen monitored the Mekong mainline and its major tributaries on a daily basis between 2007 and 2018 at 38 locations. However, due to insufficient data, only 25 sites were chosen for the study. Cambodia had eleven of the 25 monitoring stations, Laos had four, while Thailand and Vietnam each had five. In contrast, the 168-page SIMVA gathered fresh data and information that provides insights into the social conditions, vulnerabilities, and well-being of communities along the Mekong mainstream. The study also discovered that the occurrence of floods is increasing, presumably as a result of climate change and other variables such as water infrastructure expansion. Approximately 62 percent of the sampling villages suffered losses and damages as a result of flooding between 2015 and 2018. Thailand had the greatest percentage at 80%, while Vietnam had the lowest at 42%. Twenty-five percent of villages stated flooding had been substantially worse, and twenty-five percent said it had gotten worse in the last year than it had in previous years. Losses and damages from major climate shocks, particularly flooding, have increased dramatically since the 2014 study. SIMVA 2018 is the third survey of its kind, and it was done in the same research areas and using the same methodologies as SIMVA 2014. The SIMVA 2018 survey reveals, among other things, that the percentage of households fishing in the region has declined from 50 percent in 2014 to around 37 percent in 2018. This was due in part to a decrease in fish catches, and in part to the expansion of other economic opportunities and the diversification of livelihoods. Gender inequality is another aspect that contributes to societal vulnerability. Traditional gender norms still exist in many parts of the LMB corridor, with significant wage and employment gaps between men and women. Female-headed homes, which are also single-parent households, are more vulnerable. Females headed 19 percent of homes, while males headed 81 percent, according to the poll. Laos and Vietnam had the lowest rates of female-headed families, at 13 percent and 27 percent, respectively, while Thailand had the highest, at 27 percent. Aside from the FDMA and SIMVA initiatives, the MRC has also conducted major socio-economic monitoring exercises in collaboration with Member Countries, such as the State of the Basin Report 2018, which was the first large-scale undertaking to compile comprehensive socio-economic information in the basin, including the Upper Mekong River Basin.

Covid-19 outbreaks continue in Vientiane Capital, Khammouane, and Vientiane Province, with five deaths confirmed today. Today, 657 new cases of Covid-19 were reported across the country, with 5,911 tests completed in the last 24 hours, according to the National Taskforce for Covid-19 Prevention and Control. Across the country, there were 656 cases of community spread and one imported case. Five Covid-19 Deaths -On October 17, a 16-year-old student in Keooudom District, Vientiane Province, who was described as healthy and robust with no underlying illnesses, began exhibiting Covid-19 signs such as trouble breathing and fever. On the 17th of October, he was admitted to the district hospital and transferred to Phonhong Hospital after testing positive for Covid-19 on the 18th. His condition deteriorated, and he died in hospital at 1:30 a.m. on October 19th. -In the Xaythany District, a 35-year-old man died of Covid-19. The individual, who had received the Johnson & Johnson Covid-19 vaccine, had respiratory issues and had been in the hospital for seven days before dying on October 17th. -A 66-year-old woman from Vientiane Capital's Naxaythong District was brought to hospital on October 12 and died on October 18 due to underlying diseases such as diabetes and hypertension. Meanwhile, on October 18, a 65-year-old man in Champhone District, Savannakhet Province, died in hospital after not being vaccinated against Covid-19. He had underlying health issues, including diabetes. -On October 18, a 51-year-old woman from Luang Prabang City died in hospital at 5:55 p.m. after receiving two doses of Sinopharm Covid-19 vaccination. She had diabetes as well as kidney illness. Community Spread in Vientiane Capital: Vientiane Capital recorded 239 cases across 80 villages in seven districts. – Saysettha District recorded 143 cases in 20 villages. – Chanthabouly District recorded 19 cases across ten villages. – Hatsaifong District recorded 15 cases across 11 villages. – Sikhottabong District recorded 27 cases across 19 villages. – Sisattanak District recorded 13 cases across eight villages. – Xaythany District recorded 20 cases across 11 villages. – Sangthong District recorded one case in Pakdone Village. Community Spread by Province: In Luang Prabang Province, a total of 72 cases of community spread were recorded, with two cases in Nambak District. In Luang Prabang City there were 41 cases. PakOu District saw 22 cases, two cases in Viengkham District and Ngoi District saw five cases. In Bokeo Province there was one case. In Savannakhet Province, there were nine cases, including eight in Kaysone Phomvihane City and one in Champhone District. In Vientiane Province, there were 155 cases recorded, with 11 in Keooudom, four in Vangkham, 65 in Kasy, 32 in Hinherb, 19 in Phonhong, one in Vang Vieng and one in Thoulakhom District. Champasack Province saw nine cases today, with eight in Pakse City, and one in Phonthong District. Khammouane Province saw 126 cases, with 106 in Thakhek District including 63 employees from the Lao Khaiy Yuan Company and 20 in Khounkham District. Total Cases: Laos now has 7,167 active cases of Covid-19, with 45 confirmed deaths, and 32,971 total cases. Meanwhile, 268 people recovered and were discharged from hospitals around the country yesterday. Discover Cigna’s range of health insurance solutions created for expats and local nationals living in Thailand - click to view

PM Hun Sen announced today that the COVID situation following Pchum Ben has greatly improved as a result of vaccination - indicating that, if the situation remains unchanged, Cambodia might resume economic activities in all areas in the near future. The PM indicated in a special message given today that there was no outbreak of COVID 19 after the Pchum Ben celebration, when people's activities were open. As a result, he views this outcome as significant and a result of immunization, which Cambodia achieved nearly 100 percent of the time as anticipated. The Prime Minister claims that immunization is critical in combating COVID 19 and lowering death as a result of the virus's impacts, as well as preventing the disease's spread, saying: "Our vaccines have gone so smoothly that over 13.5 million individuals have been vaccinated so far, covering over 85 percent of the population," says the official. He went on to say that the majority of COVID deaths were caused by serious sickness, and that they were in critical condition when they arrived at the hospital. In all of these instances, the vaccine provides a strong protective foundation to protect people's lives, and if they are infected, the infection does not progress to a serious level. And now, following the second dose, it's time to administer the third dose in accordance with the area, to the location where the injection was previously administered, which is currently conducting an injection campaign in Phnom Penh, which takes a long time. It takes 4 to 6 months to go from the second to the third dose. The PM also noted that Cambodia now has enough vaccinations in storage for vaccination, and that if the situation remains unchanged, Cambodia will reopen economic operations in all sectors in the near future. The Prime Minister continued to urge those who have not been vaccinated against COVID 19 to do so in order to safeguard their health from the disease, stating that the vaccination is the most effective approach to combat it. The Prime Minister believes that the people of Cambodia will band together to face the challenges posed by COVID 19 by lowering the rate of infection and death.

Cambodia's tourist e-Visa scheme has been restored, according to the official Cambodia Government e-Visa website at https://evisa.gov.kh/. On the website, there is a statement that reads, " 'Cambodia e-Visa is happy to announce that the electronic visa certificate service 'Visa T' for visitors will be available for application beginning October 19, 2021.' Conditions are as follows: Fee: USD $30 + $6 processing Fee Validity for use to enter Cambodia: 3 months Period of Stay granted upon arrival: 30 Days Application Processing Time: 3 Days Quarantine: Must pre-book an Alternative State Quarantine (ASQ) hotel to apply: Courtyard by Marriott Phnom Penh Sokha Phnom Penh Hotel & Residence Raffles Hotel Le Royal Phnom Penh Quarantine Period: 7 days if fully vaccinated 14 days if not fully vaccinated or unvaccinated Mandatory requirement If completely vaccinated, Forte COVID-19 Insurance Policy + Vaccination Card/Certificate The news is a significant step toward Cambodia reopening; the suspension of the Tourist e-Visa scheme seriously damaged Cambodia's once-thriving tourism economy. However, citizens of other nations, including the United States and EU member states, appear to be unable to apply at this time. This circumstance could be due to a website fault or a policy that excludes certain countries.

With the weekend announcement of a reduction in quarantine periods for vaccinated travellers to Cambodia – as well as a new scheme for invitation letters for travellers and investors – Cambodia is taking small steps toward'reopening.' Today marked the 19th consecutive day of dramatically lower case numbers. The official daily new COVID case count for today was 175, increasing the overall number of COVID cases to 117,035 cases. PM Hun Sen said 12 days ago, on the 8th of October, that Cambodia will be able to resume its economy across all sectors if the Covid-19 situation following Pchum Ben remained stable for at least 10 days. “If the situation does not change in the next 10 to 15 days, I believe it is time to reopen the economy and society in all areas under the new normal concept,” Mr Hun Sen added. However, EuroCham today stated that Cambodia should reopen the country 'proudly' to every vaccinated passenger. "It seems a little unnecessarily comprehensive and controlled – let's face it, Cambodia has one of the most effective records in fighting Covid-19, including vaccination rates, and should be proudly reopening, equally for everyone with the appropriate safety certificate," said EuroCham chairman Tassilo Brinzer. With 19,399 instances being imported, the total number of Community Cases is now 97,636. Today, 34 imported cases were disclosed as imported cases appeared to be on the decline – but observers have cautioned that the increase in COVID-19 infections in Southern Thailand could cause problems in Cambodian border districts. Cambodia also revealed 11 new deaths, increasing the total number of COVID-19-related deaths in Cambodia to 2681. As active cases decreased, 271 recoveries were announced, bringing the total number of active COVID cases in Cambodia to 2927. This sharp decline in reported cases is linked to a new strategy of limited COVID-19 fast testing, which is the first step in moving the COVID-19 issue from pandemic to endemic status. However, this new approach has significantly reduced the number of reported cases, and when combined with the current policy of not providing any provincial or 'Delta' numbers, it is now difficult to determine the exact extent of COVID in Cambodia. Although there was a general increasing tendency in The Kingdom, the results of the last 19 days have entirely reversed this upward trend, as shown in the graph below (please note that results may be up to 2 days behind): Cambodians are counting on the Royal Government's immunization campaign, dubbed the "Cambodian vaccination miracle," to succeed, as shown in the graph below. Cambodia not only has a considerably higher vaccination rate than Thailand, Laos, and Vietnam, but it has also surpassed practically every major country in the globe, including China, France, the United Kingdom, the United States, and Germany. Cambodia's new QR Code System "StopCovid QR Vaccine," which was introduced yesterday, is yet another effort to contain and prevent the spread of COVID-19, as well as to promote the reopening of all sectors in accordance with the new rule. Discover Cigna’s range of health insurance solutions created for expats and local nationals living in Thailand - click to view

For the first time in recent months, Laos had a trade surplus in September, with exports exceeding imports. Laos had a total trade value of USD 777 million in September, according to data from the Lao Trade Portal website, with exports totaling USD 447 million and imports totaling USD 330 million. Copper ore, bananas, mixed gold (gold bars), clothing, sugar, rubber, watermelon, passion fruit, tamarind, tobacco, and rice were all major exports. Vehicles, except motorcycles and tractors, electrical devices and equipment, steel and steel products, magnetic steel, auto parts, premium and ordinary grade petrol, and plastic products were all imported in September. China was Laos' main export destination, followed by Vietnam and Thailand. Laos, on the other hand, imports primarily from Thailand, China, and Vietnam. The earnings from the export of power were not included in the trade data.

Laotian authorities have opened a railway traffic control center to regulate traffic on the Laos-China Railway. The railway traffic control center is located inside Vientiane Capital Station in Xay Village, Xaythany District, according to a CRI report. The traffic control center will send instructions to parts of the railway using a computerized system to assure safe and efficient operations, such as interlocking, train control, and section blocks. The Laos-China Railway is linked to China's railway system and employs Chinese technological standards and equipment. The 422-kilometer railway connects Kunming, China's Yunnan Province capital, with Vientiane, Laos' capital. The historic railway connecting Vientiane, Laos' capital, to the Chinese border over a distance of 427 kilometers began construction in December 2016, connecting five provinces including Luang Namtha, Oudomxay, Luang Prabang, Vientiane Province, and Vientiane Capital. It is expected to be completed and open for use by Laos' National Day on December 2 this year. The railway will pass through 198 kilometers of tunnels and 62 kilometers of bridges. It will operate at a speed of 160 kilometers per hour from the Boten border gate, which connects Northern Laos to China, to Vientiane Capital.