Cambodia suspends flights from Philippines to curb COVID-19 spread

[geovalin]

PHNOM PENH, Aug. 11 (Xinhua) -- Cambodia decided on Tuesday to temporarily suspend flights from the Philippines in a bid to prevent the spread of COVID-19, according to Health Minister Mam Bunheng.

 

Cambodian Prime Minister Samdech Techo Hun Sen said he had approved the suspension, which will take effect from Thursday, adding that the move was aimed at protecting the safety and well-being of the Cambodian people.

 

The ministry has noticed that the infection rate recently in the Philippines has jumped sharply, becoming the country with the highest number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), so passengers from the Philippines are also a source of concern, Bunheng said.

 

The move also came after a flight from the Philippines, carrying a total of 119 passengers, landed in Phnom Penh, capital of Cambodia over the weekend, and 13 of them tested positive for COVID-19.

 

Cambodia has also halted flights from Malaysia and Indonesia since Aug. 1 after the kingdom had seen a remarkable spike in imported COVID-19 cases through those flights.

The country has so far recorded a total of 266 confirmed COVID-19 cases, with 220 patients cured and 46 remained in hospital.

 

http://www.xinhuanet.com/english/2020-08/11/c_139282749.htm