The World Health Organization supports reopenings, and a Cambodian representative says a new normal is conceivable if implemented responsibly.

[ASEAN NOW]

 

After observing a sustainable and well-managed response to the Covid-19 outbreak, the WHO in Cambodia has suggested that the Ministry of Health consider reopening all sectors, particularly companies, in Cambodia.

Dr. Li Ailan, the World Health Organization's Representative in Cambodia, told the Khmer Times Wednesday that reopening in a safe and sustainable manner is conceivable if properly managed.

 

"For business reopening, we need to employ a robust risk management technique in all sectors, notably the business sector." Individuals must make the best decisions possible when it comes to Covid-19 measures. "Implementation and monitoring are critical," stated Dr. Ailan.

 

"We have undoubtedly learned some lessons in order to achieve our goal of reopening the safe," she continued.

 

She warned, however, that if the reopening is rushed without proper planning and risk management, cases would skyrocket, hospitals will be overburdened, and businesses will be forced to close again.

 

“I believe this is the appropriate time to contemplate reopening the economy and our society in a secure and responsible manner. "The present Covid-19 response tactics must be updated to fit the New Normal, and appropriate policies must encourage all sectors to invest in risk-based, balanced public health and social measures," she said.

 

Dr. Ailan went on to say that functional monitoring of implementation and compliance is critical. Policies should encourage the health sector to change to less intensive, more long-term Covid-19 operations while also enhancing health care and public health surveillance systems in order to detect and respond to future epidemics early.

 

She emphasized that the virus, particularly the Delta strain, is spreading in the population and that, even if vaccine coverage is good, a surge in Covid-19 cases could overwhelm health care if company reopening is not effectively controlled.

 

WHO recommends and advocates the use of a risk-based strategy in reforming all sectors, as well as shifting mindsets and efforts in "learning, adjusting, and sustaining" a new way of working and living, according to Dr. Ailan.

 

She also stated that Cambodia's high immunization coverage provides a solid foundation for safely and responsibly rebuilding the economy and society. Vaccination, on the other hand, is insufficient.

 

"We're aiming to provide policy advice and technical help in the future as we move toward "living with Covid-19" as an endemic disease," she said.

 

"A good combination of "vaccination," "public health and social measures (PHSM)," and "health care capacity" is required, she said. "As we progress in this condition of increased vaccine coverage, we will have to put our new ways of life to the test." We must experiment with new metrics and behaviors, learn from them, change them, and maintain them."

She believes that each sector may open safely and responsibly if it has balanced, risk-based policies on public health and social measures that include guidance from the health sector, monitoring of implementation and compliance, and involvement and communication with sector members.

 

Dr. Ailan pointed out that investments in these measures are investments in the lives and livelihoods of the individuals in that sector.

 

In response to some visitors' recent irresponsible behavior during Pchum Ben, she suggested that communities should also play a role by adopting disease-prevention measures.

 

"I am sorry that some people did not take this obligation seriously. Images of crowded and maskless gatherings have been seen in several spots and on social media. These are the kinds of events that can push Cambodia over the Red Line and back into civil unrest, according to Dr. Ailan.

 

"We should not reverse Cambodia's success so far." WHO is thankful for people who work hard and keep an eye on the situation during their vacations? We applaud the local authorities for acting quickly to avert a disaster. This type of monitoring and prompt response, rather than waiting for problems to arise, is exactly the kind of try, learn, adjust, and sustain approach Cambodia need," she noted.

 

Or Vandine, a spokesman for the Ministry of Health, said Tuesday that she hopes to be out of the Covid-19 box as soon as possible if people continue to follow the 3 Do's and 3 Don'ts appropriately and on a regular basis.

 

"Learning to take the essential precautions with care allows us to accept a new normal when it comes to properly reopening enterprises," Vandine said.

 

Prime Minister Hun Sen said on Friday that if the Covid-19 situation after Pchum Ben continues stable at present levels for at least 10 days, Cambodia will be able to resume its economy in all sectors.

 

"If the situation remains unchanged for the next 10 to 15 days," Mr Hun Sen added, "I believe it is time to reopen the economy and society across all sectors under the new normal paradigm."

 

In other news, Hem Sinareth, the director of the capital's Department of Education, revealed on Saturday evening that 6,000 instructors were tested for Covid-19 from October 8 to 9 and 11 were found positive.

 

He stated that the capital's remaining 1,000 instructors will be assessed today.

 

Meanwhile, using PCR testing, the Ministry of Health announced 239 additional cases of Covid-19 yesterday, increasing the total number of cases in the country to 107,857. 25 of the new cases are imported, while the rest are tied to the Community Event on February 20.

 

In addition, the ministry announced 24 new deaths, bringing the total number of fatalities to 2,506.

 

It also logged 481 new recoveries, bringing the total number of recoveries to 107,857.