Cambodia requires foreigners to pay for COVID-19 test, quarantine, treatment services

[geovalin]

PHNOM PENH, June 9 (Xinhua) -- Cambodia has required foreigners to pay for COVID-19 lab test, quarantine and treatment services, Economy and Finance Minister Aun Pornmoniroth said in a letter dated Monday and released to the media on Tuesday.

 

The move was made at the request of the Ministry of Health, the letter said.

Under the kingdom's health measures, all travelers, both Cambodians and foreigners, who travel to Cambodia will be transferred from airports to waiting centers for COVID-19 lab tests and they are required to wait for the test results at those centers.

 

The letter said a foreigner must pay five U.S. dollars for a single trip between airport and waiting center, 100 dollars for a COVID-19 test, 30 dollars a day for staying at a hotel or at a waiting center to wait for the test result, and 30 dollars a day for three meals.

 

It added that if anyone of the passengers is tested positive for the COVID-19, the rest of the passengers in the same group will be quarantined for 14 days, and each of them will be required to pay 100 dollars for one test and 84 dollars a day for hotel or quarantine facility, meals, laundry and sanitary services, doctors and security service.

 

According to the letter, for COVID-19 positive patients, each of them will be required to pay 100 dollars for one test (maximum four tests) and 225 dollars a day for hospital room, medical treatment service, meals, and laundry and sanitary services.

 

It added that the cremation service charge for a dead body is 1,500 dollars.

For the issuance of a health certificate on COVID-19, a foreigner is required to pay 100 dollars for a lab test and 30 dollars for the certificate, the letter said.

 

The Southeast Asian country has so far confirmed a total of 126 confirmed cases of COVID-19, with 124 patients cured and two remained hospitalized, according to a Ministry of Health statement.

 

http://www.xinhuanet.com/english/2020-06/09/c_139126924.htm

[Mama Noodle]

Reasonable enough, but are they allowing foreign tourists/family to come? 

[4MyEgo]

Another genius with an idea, but from a neighboring country, will Thailand follow, let's wait and see, suffice to say, I don't see many foreigners travelling to Cambodia.

[Scouse123]

1 hour ago, 4MyEgo said:

Another genius with an idea, but from a neighboring country, will Thailand follow, let's wait and see, suffice to say, I don't see many foreigners travelling to Cambodia.

With those regulations, me neither!

[Raphus]

Yes, it's a prudent approach. But 'If anyone on the plane tests positive, all the passengers will be quarantined for 14 days' . Then did you notice the accommodation cost just shoots from 30 dollars a day to 84 dollars a day !!

I wonder what the difference is !

Anyway, Cambodia will only get people or businessmen needing to enter the country. Tourists will not be prepared to pay this cost, neither will they want to budget this also. Finally, getting a test before you leave your home country here is pointless also, as it will not matter under these rules.

 

[Kaoboi Bebobp]

Imagine all the way over on the plane you have to pray no one else has a fever. That's no way to take a holiday. 

[Sheryl]

3 hours ago, Mama Noodle said:

Reasonable enough, but are they allowing foreign tourists/family to come? 

 

They are not issuing tourist visas yet.

 

People who already hold non-tourist visas can come, subject to the provisions above and also an insurance requirement and a COVID free certificate issued up to 72 hours prior to entry (this is on top of the mandatory test on arrival).

 

The way the most recent decree is worded  (see here https://cambodiaembassyinthailand.wordpress.com/2020/03/31/restrictions-for-entry-to-cambodia-covid-19-pandemic/) it appears that non-tourist visas can be issued by Embassies but I haven't heard any first hand reports of anyone going through that process.

[Sheryl]

44 minutes ago, Kaoboi Bebobp said:

Imagine all the way over on the plane you have to pray no one else has a fever. That's no way to take a holiday. 

 

Not just no fever.  That no one, even asymoptomatic, tests positive on arrival. Usually at least on person does,

 

As tourist visas are still not  being issued, holidays don:t really come into it. Anyone coming is doing so for work or family reasons or for long term residence.

[PerkinsCuthbert]

If the intention is to deter people from entering the country, this is next best to just closing the borders; in the longer run it's a totally unworkable measure, like so many being proposed around the World in the fog and fear of CV-19.

[Ketyo]

Seems fair enough. Cambodia is a poor country. Why is it going to cover the medical testing and quarantine costs for hundreds or thousands of arrivals. 

 

If you can't afford $200 for a test on arrival (or even a possible but unlikely $2000 for 2 weeks quarantine), don't go to Cambodia. At least you have a choice.

 

Investors and business people will still travel. 

 

And a lot less extreme than the Thai government banning travel, closing down airports putting curfews in place and bankrupting the airlines.

 

I suspect all countries will go down this line.  It puts off visitors... but not as much as a new flare up of cases would.

 

 

[Ketyo]

3 hours ago, PerkinsCuthbert said:

If the intention is to deter people from entering the country, this is next best to just closing the borders; in the longer run it's a totally unworkable measure, like so many being proposed around the World in the fog and fear of CV-19.

Of course it's workable you moron. They are doing it now!!

Edited June 10, 2020 by Ketyo

[PerkinsCuthbert]

1 minute ago, Ketyo said:

Of course it's workable you moron. They are doing it now!!

Read it again, dickbrain, I'll italicise the relevant portion so you don't miss it a second time - "in the long run it's a totally unworkable measure...".

[JCauto]

Did I miss something? What happens to returning Cambodians? Are the rules different for them? Does the virus know not to affect them on the plane somehow?

[Bender Rodriguez]

all that for a virus not worse than a bad flu

 

the world lost it's mind, at least the government loves it, tight control

[Scouse123]

The truth is the likes of Prayut and Hun Sen and their cronies are completely out of their depth here with the pandemic and their only reaction was total shutdown. They are being guided by people, such as their bureaucrats and scientists, who are too scared to take a chance or a risk in case it goes wrong and they get the blame or lose face. So, they will just maintain the status quo forever, until somebody has the ' spine ' to make a decision.

 

They rely way too much on what the Chinese are saying and place too much credence on Chinese biased reporting.

 

In the meantime their economies get battered but that does not affect these guys, they will still be sleeping soundly and finding ingenious ways for the money supply to keep pouring into their personal coffers.

 

They actually are so naive that they believe that there will be a rush to enter their countries when restrictions are lifted, well they are in for a hell of an awakening.

 

In the meantime, he is trying to persuade Myanmar migrants and Cambodians to stay in Thailand to do the jobs the Thais won't do, because he doesn't want to lose cheap labour nor do they want to pay for repatriation!  It has nothing to do with spreading or containing Covid19.

 

However, as usual, he still wants countries in SEA, Middle East and Europe to accept Thai nationals to go there for work very shortly, whilst keeping Thailand on lockdown and separating foreigners from their Thai wives and children, with no clear guidance or assistance for any humanitarian effort to get them back together.

 

The domestic tourism offers in Thailand are a nonsense, you can get better deals using the online booking sites for hotel rates. Usually, it's the top end hotels that offer discounts, the same as I get offered on my KTC card monthly, and they are never great deals at all. In fact they are usually rubbish deals and offers and just fillers for the envelope containing my monthly statement.

 

Moving to Cambodia, no businessman, businesswoman or tourist will be prepared to accept nor risk flying to Cambodia with the ridiculous terms of entry to the country at the moment.

 

Totally bizarre to even bring it out into the public domain.

 

Finally, both Thailand and Cambodia would do better to issue government statements only blocking lower ranking officials from speaking instead of departmental ' empty heads ' running off their mouths, for five minutes of fame, when these statements are not approved government policy.

 

This would lessen the confusion to the local population, expats and foreigners who are looking for factual and clear guidance and information so people know where they stand.

 

 

 

 

Edited June 10, 2020 by Scouse123

[scubascuba3]

At least their being open about the costs, I've still not seen anything about the Thai costs

[Burma Bill]

10 hours ago, 4MyEgo said:

Another genius with an idea, but from a neighboring country, will Thailand follow, let's wait and see, suffice to say, I don't see many foreigners travelling to Cambodia.

Great - very enjoyable living here without the herds of tourists.  

[Burma Bill]

An excellent decision which has my full support!

[Benmart]

10 hours ago, 4MyEgo said:

Another genius with an idea, but from a neighboring country, will Thailand follow, let's wait and see, suffice to say, I don't see many foreigners travelling to Cambodia.

I live in Thailand and was planning on making a trip to a rural school in Cambodia that I help support. That will be put on hold for now.

[Stargeezr]

I am curious,  How many Cambodian dollars to a USA dollar?

Geezer

[shdmn]

38 minutes ago, Stargrazer9889 said:

I am curious,  How many Cambodian dollars to a USA dollar?

Geezer

I think the USD is the standard currency even though the Riel is the official one.  I think the riel is pegged to the USD at 4000:1

Edited June 10, 2020 by shdmn

[rott]

I had been thinking of a few months in Cambodia when things settled down. Looks like it's on hold for a while. 

[rott]

9 hours ago, Burma Bill said:

Great - very enjoyable living here without the herds of tourists.  

The bars must be suffering Bill. Any closures? 

[sammieuk1]

Bung on some zeros general kerching ????

[Burma Bill]

4 hours ago, rott said:

The bars must be suffering Bill. Any closures? 

Only the large bars and restaurants geared up for the tourists and tour parties, especially in Siem Reap's Pub Street. Most of the smaller local Khmer/Foreigner owned bars and restaurants are still thriving and in business serving alcohol, which has never been banned here. Many of the large "buffet" restaurants especially geared to the Chinese tour parties have closed, some up for sale, others for rent and in a state of dilapidation. If I decide on a "sun-downer" I can pop around the corner from my apartment to the "Home Brew Pub" near Wat Bo with its selection of real ales and traditional Cambodian beers.