It appears that the ‘pagoda outbreaks’ – previously centred on Phnom Penh – have spread further into Cambodia with the news that 58 out of 135 monks tested at a Battambang pagoda have tested positive for COVID.

 

In addition to the cases in Khnachormeas pagoda, 42 people in the Khnachormeas village in Bavel district also tested positive today.

 

Authorities said that in addition to the monks, residents in Khnachormeas Market and students at Khnachormeas Secondary School also tested positive.

 

read more https://www.khmertimeskh.com/50942748/43-of-monks-tested-are-positive-for-covid-at-battambang-pagoda/

I don't get it.

 

They say they are the most vaccinated country after Singapore and way in front of most of Europe and all South Asia. However, they are still in lockdown and going into a panic about further small outbreaks. The Delta variant much as though it is more transmissible, there is no evidence to suggest it is more severe or deadly.

 

We know the vaccine doesn't stop the virus but it reduces the chances of catching it and removes nearly all the worry about severe symptoms and hospitalization. So why is most of their country still in lockdown? Is it because the much lauded Chinese vaccine isn't proving to be as successful as claimed?

 

They were boasting last week that they would be in the best position in the region to get a head start and open in front of Thailand, Vietnam and others. Thailand has already set a date for reopening.

 

The UK is getting 35K cases a week or whatever but has fully opened including football matches, 70,000 at the boxing last week and concerts have begun again, its back to normal. Their cases are high, but deaths and hospitalizations remain very low. The scientists are saying if it continues like this, there will not be a spike in the winter.

 

Or is Cambodia trying to follow the pipe dream of zero cases like the Chinese were? It won't work, their borders are way too porous.

 

Don't tell us Hun Sen suddenly cares about the Cambodian population, I don't think the public at large will believe that one.

 

Does he think he can come to the World bank again pleading poverty and using the developing nation mantra to beg for even more assistance? If so, I suggest he asks his Chinese paymasters.

 

He wants US aid and EU/UK aid but isn't prepared to address issues such as human rights, using the OLD Chinese well worn cliche , but substituting his country's name, ' Cambodia rejects outsiders trying to interfere in their internal affairs or attaching pre conditions to supplying foreign aid '