Cambodia lifts entry ban from six countries as coronavirus eases

[geovalin]

PHNOM PENH (Reuters) - Cambodia has lifted a ban on entry of visitors from Iran, Italy, Germany, Spain, France and the United States that had been put in place to curb the spread of coronavirus, the health ministry said on Wednesday.

 

Despite the easing, foreign visitors would still need to have a certificate no more than 72 hours old confirming that they are not infected with the novel coronavirus and proof of $50,000 worth of health insurance while in Cambodia, the ministry said.

 

They also would be quarantined for 14 days after arrival at government designate place and tested for the coronavirus, a ministry statement said, but did not specify where.

 

“All passengers, both Cambodian and foreign, who are travelling to Cambodia, are admitted to waiting centres for the COVID-19 tests and that they are waiting for results from the Pasteur laboratory,” Health Minister Mam Bunheng said in a statement, referring to respiratory disease caused by the coronavirus.

 

The Health Ministry said on Saturday that the last patient with the coronavirus has recovered and left hospital, leaving the Southeast Asian country with zero cases.

 

Cambodia has reported 122 cases of the virus that causes COVID-19 and no deaths from the disease since it emerged in China and started spreading around the world, infecting more than 4.5 million and killing about 300,000 since January.

 

Reporting by Prak Chan Thul; Editing by Kay Johnson and Christian Schmollinger

 

-- REUTERS

[blackcab]

Strange. Why not Thailand?

[Stocky]

13 minutes ago, blackcab said:

Strange. Why not Thailand?

I don't think there was one in the first place.

[blackcab]

22 minutes ago, Stocky said:

I don't think there was one in the first place.

 

https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1155689-cambodian-migrant-workers-rush-back-as-thai-border-closed/

[BritManToo]

1 hour ago, geovalin said:

Despite the easing, foreign visitors would still need to have a certificate no more than 72 hours old confirming that they are not infected with the novel coronavirus and proof of $50,000 worth of health insurance while in Cambodia, the ministry said.

 

They also would be quarantined for 14 days after arrival at government designate place and tested for the coronavirus, a ministry statement said, but did not specify where.

Bit of a deal killer!

I would estimate they get no takers on this offer.

Edited May 21, 2020 by BritManToo

[Pattaya46]

1 minute ago, BritManToo said:

Bit of a deal killer!

For tourists, yes, but at least it allows expats stuck abroad to come back in Cambodia.

It's what Thailand needs to do too...

[Stocky]

26 minutes ago, blackcab said:

 

https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1155689-cambodian-migrant-workers-rush-back-as-thai-border-closed/

Yeah, Thailand closed its borders to everyone, but did Cambodia?

[blackcab]

They closed the border to Thailand and Laos. Not sure about Vietnam:

 

"Interior Ministry spokesman General Khieu Sopheak said yesterday only the land borders between Cambodia and Thailand and Cambodia with Laos are closed."

 

https://www.khmertimeskh.com/704526/cambodia-almost-sealed-off-after-borders-close/

[sammieuk1]

Its not lifting as I would want to know it ????

[fred110]

It's a joke? 14 days locked up, $50000 insurance, who wants to go there?

[zzzzz]

FYI:
yep lifted the restrictions but you still need a visa from an embassy and embassy's are NOT issuing them;

so its really only lifted for those that had 1 year extensions and were from those 6 countries, now they can go back

 

From the Cambodian embassy in Bangkok and same for the embassy in DC

 

Quote

In order to reduce and contain the transmision of the Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) and in line with the measures taken by ASEAN countries, the Royal Government of Cambodia has decided to impose the temporary entry restrictions into the Kingdom of Cambodia.
Suspension to:
1- Visa exemption policy
2-Issuance of Tourist Visa
3-e-Visa (Online visa)
4-Visa upon arrival

 

Edited May 22, 2020 by zzzzz

[Sheryl]

19 hours ago, Stocky said:

Yeah, Thailand closed its borders to everyone, but did Cambodia?

Yes. Total ban on arrivals  from abroad with few exceptions.

[Sheryl]

54 minutes ago, zzzzz said:

FYI:
yep lifted the restrictions but you still need a visa from an embassy and embassy's are NOT issuing them;

so its really only lifted for those that had 1 year extensions and were from those 6 countries, now they can go back

 

From the Cambodian embassy in Bangkok and same for the embassy in DC

 

 

Indeed, as far as I can tell no change to ban on visa issuance. And no apparent resumption of international flights. And land borders remain closed.

 

Possibly this is aimed at overseas Khmer/Cambodians returning from abroad?

 

In addition to the 14 day quarantine apparently there is viral testing on arrival at the airport during which time you are sequestered in the airport. No info on how long this may take or conditions where sequestered.

[George Aylesham]

21 hours ago, blackcab said:

Strange. Why not Thailand?

Even stranger - why admit passengers from the US?

[Burma Bill]

22 hours ago, Stocky said:

Yeah, Thailand closed its borders to everyone, but did Cambodia?

Initially - YES!

[Isaan sailor]

4 hours ago, George Aylesham said:

Even stranger - why admit passengers from the US?

$$$...It’s their de facto currency. 

Edited May 22, 2020 by Isaan sailor

[paulikens]

where do thailand and cambodia keep getting this health cert bull from,theres no such thing

[Sheryl]

On 5/21/2020 at 2:29 PM, blackcab said:

They closed the border to Thailand and Laos. Not sure about Vietnam:

 

"Interior Ministry spokesman General Khieu Sopheak said yesterday only the land borders between Cambodia and Thailand and Cambodia with Laos are closed."

 

https://www.khmertimeskh.com/704526/cambodia-almost-sealed-off-after-borders-close/

Shortly thereafter VN border closed as well. AFAIK all borders remain closed to crossing by people but open for transport of goods

[Sheryl]

Interestingly this latest government order is posted on Camb Embassyu website in USA only in Khmer whereas prior announcements are posted in English.

 

Which adds to my impresison that this primarily pertains to/is aimed at returning Camboidian citizens

[fred110]

4 hours ago, George Aylesham said:

Even stranger - why admit passengers from the US?

Look at the death rate by population,  here's a chart

https://www.statista.com/statistics/1104709/coronavirus-deaths-worldwide-per-million-inhabitants/

[tlandtday]

Who in their right mind would travel to Cambodia with these requirements?  To pay for health insurance for a nearly non existent health service in Cambodia?  To be quarantined for 14 days upon arrival.  Are these people mad expecting visitors?

[Burma Bill]

3 minutes ago, tlandtday said:

a nearly non existent health service in Cambodia? 

That is not true. There are many PRIVATE clinics and hospitals in Cambodia, especially in Phnom Penh and Siem Reap - hence the medical insurance required. Cambodian Government hospitals would probably refer you to one of them. For reference, there is The Royal Angkor Hospital (Bangkok Hospital Group) in Siem Reap:-

 

 

[tlandtday]

okay that's two in the entire country lol

[Sheryl]

[Sheryl]

Above is official English translation.

 

As I read this+

 

1 - IF you already hold a valid visa and IF you can find a flight, you can come provided you get a COVID free certification and have proof of health insurance. You will have to undergo testing at the airport along with everyone else on your flight. No info on how long you will have to wait for results but I would certainly avoid a late afternoon or  night entry. Provided all people on the flight test negative you can then self-isolate at home assuming you have one. If anyone on the flight tests positive, the whole lot of you will be in state quarantine for 14 days.

 

2 - If you do not already have a visa and can somehow persuade a Cambodian Embassy abroad to issue you one, same as above, otherwise cannot enter (no reports that I have seen on anyone managing this)  Still no evisas or visas on arrival.

 

Basically it helps only overseas Cambodiansd and  expats with long term visas who were caught out of country. Still a better situation than for their equivalents in Thailand.

[ChouDoufu]

5 hours ago, tlandtday said:

Who in their right mind would travel to Cambodia with these requirements?  To pay for health insurance for a nearly non existent health service in Cambodia?  To be quarantined for 14 days upon arrival.  Are these people mad expecting visitors?

nearly non-existant perhaps, but i believe there are some western specialist clinics available if the price is right.  you also want insurance to cover those massively expensive emergency evacuation flights, or in the worst case, the cost of repatriation of remains.

[ChouDoufu]

On 5/22/2020 at 3:47 PM, paulikens said:

where do thailand and cambodia keep getting this health cert bull from,theres no such thing

chinese government hospitals offer covid testing for the equivalent of 1000 baht.  surely some other countries have testing available.

[zzzzz]

recent arrivals

Quote

 

PHNOM PENH - The Ministry of Health has ordered 100 incoming travelers at Phnom Penh International Airport to be quarantined for 14 days. Both Cambodian nationals and foreigners, who arrived on two flights with Korean Air and Asiana from Seoul on 24 May 2020, have been placed in quarantine with daily checks for any coronavirus symptoms.

Professor Mam Bunheng, Minister of Health, said "We have seen in the past that all 19 Covid patients in Cambodia are import cases, and therefore we must increase our vigilance and screen all arrivals to Cambodia".

 

no idea how much that costs ya for room,food, wifi

[paulikens]

1 hour ago, ChouDoufu said:

chinese government hospitals offer covid testing for the equivalent of 1000 baht.  surely some other countries have testing available.

china have a decent health service i expect.,were the uk don't, we have no money our health service is like a third worlds health system. u can get tested for covid 19 if u have the symptoms only. u cant just get tested for covid 19 cuz u wanna fly to thailand!

[Sheryl]

1 hour ago, ChouDoufu said:

nearly non-existant perhaps, but i believe there are some western specialist clinics available if the price is right.  you also want insurance to cover those massively expensive emergency evacuation flights, or in the worst case, the cost of repatriation of remains.

 

Not really.

 

There is in Phnom Penh and Siem Reap internatiopnal hospitals (joint venture with Thailand's Bangkok Hospital group) but since theo nset of the pandemic virtually all the non-Khmer  doctors have left.