Cambodia to end quarantine for vaccinated travelers from Nov.15

[geovalin]

PHNOM PENH (Reuters) -- Cambodia will stop requiring quarantine for travellers who have been vaccinated for COVID-19 starting on Monday, Prime Minister Hun Sen said on Sunday.

The prime minister made the announcement in a voice message on social media after the Southeast Asian country has required lengthy quarantine for more than 18 months.

"After seeing that people have two doses and a negative COVID test, they will be allowed to travel all over the Kingdom of Cambodia," he said.
Hun Sen said travellers will have to show their negative test 72 hours prior to travel and have two vaccine doses. Those who are unvaccinated will be quarantined for 14 days.

Hun Sen said vaccinated foreigners and Cambodians who are in quarantine will be allowed to leave from tomorrow.
"This is a quick way to re-open the country and facilitate travel for our people. I know some of our citizens want to go abroad but are worried about coming back with quarantine required," he said.
Cambodia has vaccinated nearly 90% of its more than 16 million people, one of Asia's highest inoculation rates.

 

[blackcab]

@ubonjoe How would this work for foreigners in Thailand who need to do a border bounce?

 

Can those foreigners use land borders one way or both ways, or is a flight required one way or both ways?

[Sheryl]

4 hours ago, blackcab said:

@ubonjoe How would this work for foreigners in Thailand who need to do a border bounce?

 

Can those foreigners use land borders one way or both ways, or is a flight required one way or both ways?

Land border is still shut. It is reported that it will reopen for migrant workers next month. Not at all clear that it would open for others.

 

Thailand Plus requires arrival by air.

 

Total unclear how the "new normal" will work in Cambodia. I think PM's announcement (made on social media) took rest of government by surprise and unprepared. Many uncertainties remain (?still required to have Forte insurance? etc.)

[Danderman123]

How about the $3000 deposit on arrival?

[Sheryl]

5 hours ago, Danderman123 said:

How about the $3000 deposit on arrival?

No more. In fact has not been for a while.

 

I'm hearing that Forte insurance still required and it sounds like some sort of test (not sure PCR or rapid antigen test) on arrival, unclear how that is ensured. Also unclear if must also have PCR before flight.

[Sheryl]

Addendum:

 

Informal translation of MoH announcement:

 

"1. Passengers who have been fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and arrive in Cambodia by air, sea or land must have the following:

– COVID-19 Vaccination Card/Certificate
– Pre-flight COVID-19 PCR test no more than 72 hours prior to arrival in Cambodia.

Upon arrival in Cambodia, passengers will have a Rapid Antigen Test, and wait appx 15-20 minutes for the test results. If negative, the person is able to travel freely throughout Cambodia, regardless of region or province, and is not required to be quarantined

2. There are no changes to the entry & quarantine requirements for Travellers who are not fully vaccinated/unvaccinated.

3. Fully vaccinated travellers who are currently in quarantine will receive a Rapid Antigen test on the 15th Nov 21, and will be released from quarantine if tested negative."

 

So need COVID PCR before departure.

 

No mention here of Forte but I have heard anecdotal reports airport still asks for it

[Rainville]

That's great news ! Finally a country doing it right.

 

What about the nightlife? Bars/clubs, are they opened at the moment? Any curfew in place? Restrictions?

 

Thanks! 

 

Might book it for March!

[Danderman123]

How about flights from Thailand to Cambodia?

[Sheryl]

14 minutes ago, Danderman123 said:

How about flights from Thailand to Cambodia?

 

Cambodia Airways and Lanmei airlines from this month

Bangkok Airways starts in December

 

But flights are not daily.

 

I expect flight frequency will pick up as more bookings come in. Currently not many Cambodians coming to Thailand as difficult for those not fluent in English to navigate the Thailand Pass application process.

[mommysboy]

Thailand might well learn a lesson from this.

 

Much better to wait until 80% plus are vaccinated though.

[Kaoboi Bebobp]

More good news: You can arrive on a Tourist visa and convert in-country to either an EB (business extension of stay) or ER (retirement EOS). Of course, there will be the EOS fee and the conversion fee, which I figured out to be roughly 13,000 to 15,000 baht in total based on a post from last spring: $270-$300 for EOS and $150 for conversion fee.

 

This was reported, several hours ago, by the visa expert/Admin on the Cambodia Visa and Work Permit FB page: 

 

Quote

The DoI [Dept. of Labour] are going to allow travellers who enter the country on a T-type (Tourist) Visa or e-Visa (online Tourist Visa) issued in 2021 to apply for an EB (Business) or ER (Retirement) Extension of Stay (EOS) without the need to leave the country.
Applications must be made via a Visa Agency, and yes, there is an additional fee on top of the regular EOS & service fee for this privilege.
Contact your preferred Visa Agent for further details.
How long this will last for is anyone's guess, so take advantage of it while you can.

 

[Kaoboi Bebobp]

4 hours ago, mommysboy said:

Thailand might well learn a lesson from this.

 

Much better to wait until 80% plus are vaccinated though.

80.2% have been fully vaccinated in Cambodia, reports Reuters.

[it is what it is]

 

thailand, are you paying attention?

[Sheryl]

On 11/18/2021 at 6:19 PM, Kaoboi Bebobp said:

80.2% have been fully vaccinated in Cambodia, reports Reuters.

Higher if limited to adults only.

[jerrymahoney]

On 11/18/2021 at 6:19 PM, Kaoboi Bebobp said:

80.2% have been fully vaccinated in Cambodia, reports Reuters.

And according to the NY Times Published Nov. 18, 2021:

 

Cambodia’s Reopening Is Propelled by Vaccinations

 

While the prime minister put the fully vaccinated rate at 88 percent based on a population of 16 million, The New York Times database puts the rate at 80 percent, based on a population of nearly 16.5 million.

 

More than two million people also have received a third dose.

 

About 90 percent of Cambodia’s vaccines came from China, including more than nine million doses of Sinovac and nearly four million doses of Sinopharm.

 

https://www.nytimes.com/live/2021/11/18/world/covid-vaccine-boosters-mandates

[Sheryl]

4 hours ago, jerrymahoney said:

And according to the NY Times Published Nov. 18, 2021:

 

Cambodia’s Reopening Is Propelled by Vaccinations

 

While the prime minister put the fully vaccinated rate at 88 percent based on a population of 16 million, The New York Times database puts the rate at 80 percent, based on a population of nearly 16.5 million.

 

More than two million people also have received a third dose.

 

About 90 percent of Cambodia’s vaccines came from China, including more than nine million doses of Sinovac and nearly four million doses of Sinopharm.

 

https://www.nytimes.com/live/2021/11/18/world/covid-vaccine-boosters-mandates

 

Population is 15,552,211 in 2019 per the 2019 census which is the most definitive source.

 

Factoring the population growth rate  of .014%, 2021 population is 15.99. Based on reported numbers fukly vaccinated this does indeed come out to 88%

 

Sounds like the NYT was using outdated projections rather than actual figure. This is one case where Hun Sen is more accurate.

[jerrymahoney]

15 hours ago, Sheryl said:

 

Population is 15,552,211 in 2019 per the 2019 census which is the most definitive source.

 

Factoring the population growth rate  of .014%, 2021 population is 15.99. Based on reported numbers fukly vaccinated this does indeed come out to 88%

Sounds like the NYT was using outdated projections rather than actual figure. This is one case where Hun Sen is more accurate.

I was more interested in the NY Times claim that about 90% of the Cambodian population has been vaccinated with Sinovac or Sinopharm which a large component of these pages relegate to as effective as (choose your pejorative).

[Sheryl]

7 hours ago, jerrymahoney said:

I was more interested in the NY Times claim that about 90% of the Cambodian population has been vaccinated with Sinovac or Sinopharm which a large component of these pages relegate to as effective as (choose your pejorative).

The are giving AZ booster to everyone who had Sinovac or Sinopharm. Pretty well covered all of Phnom Penh already, I don't know re rest of country.

 

I do agree that vaccination with Sinovac or Sinopharm alone is of limited value.

[jerrymahoney]

And in the US of A updated Nov. 21, 2021, 

 

Boosters for all adults.
The C.D.C. on Friday endorsed booster shots of the Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna coronavirus vaccines for all adults, a move that brought tens of millions fully vaccinated adults a step closer to a third shot.

 

Boosters are recommended six months after the second shot of the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines. With this final step, boosters should be available this weekend, allowing many Americans to get a shot before the Thanksgiving holiday.

 

https://www.nytimes.com/live/2021/11/20/world/covid-boosters-vaccines-cases-mandates

 

So not just a Sinovac/Sinopharm thing.