The Ministry of Health is not in a rush to impose travel restrictions on people from Omicron-affected nations.

[ASEAN NOW]

 

The Ministry of Health is beefing its steps to avoid the spread of B.1.1529 (Omicron), the latest and most virulent strain of Covid-19 discovered in Africa, as worldwide concern mounts.

However, unlike Asean neighbors like as Thailand and Singapore, as well as many other nations, the restrictions do not include a ban on immigration from some African countries where the virus is growing.

 

Or Vandine, a spokesman for the Ministry of Health, said yesterday that because Cambodia does not currently have the variation, it will not block flights from nations that do.

 

"We are now living in a new normal, which we must sustain for the sake of stability." "We can't open up and then close down," she said, adding that "we can't forecast what will happen in the future and must maintain our vigilance."

"The variety is passed down through the mobility of individuals. By doing a fast test upon arrival, we will pay closer attention to individuals arriving from countries with transmission. If they test positive, they must be isolated in a treatment facility," she explained.

 

Thailand's Bangkok Post reported yesterday that the nation will restrict visitors from eight southern African countries where the new Covid-19 strain has been discovered. The restriction is in place despite the fact that the new strain has yet to be found in Thailand, according to the country's Department of Disease Control.

 

Similarly, according to a Channel News Asia article from Friday, Singapore's Ministry of Health has announced that persons with recent travel histories to seven African nations will be denied admission because to allegations that Omnicrom is circulating there.

 

"All long-term pass holders and short-term tourists with travel records to Botswana, Eswatini, Lesotho, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, and Zimbabwe within the previous 14 days would not be allowed to enter Singapore or transit here starting at 11.59 p.m. on Saturday," the ministry stated.

 

Dr Li Ailan, the World Health Organization's representative in Cambodia, told Khmer Times yesterday that WHO advises a risk-based strategy for altering international border procedures, which might include targeted quarantine as well as other readiness and reaction measures.

 

"When it comes to managing international border measures, it's a good practice to strike the best possible balance between putting in place necessary public health measures to delay possible Omicron importation while ensuring no significant unnecessary disruption of international travel and movements," she said.

 

"What we know about Omicron is that it is a variety of concern," she said, "but there are still many unknowns or questions regarding real viral behaviors." She said that study into the variant's transmission is still underway. These factors include the severity of the problem and its potential impact on vaccination efficacy.

 

She explained that in the face of such uncertainty, the best course of action is to "prepare ourselves and be ready for a better response to probable adverse events, such as a future large surge."

 

"What we're doing in Cambodia (for example, individual Covid-19 preventative actions like appropriately wearing a mask) is to save lives and safeguard health," she continued.

 

"While we continue to ensure a safe and long-term reopening, we are continuously learning from our real-world experiences." "We're adjusting certain measures depending on the local circumstances, and we should continue to support Cambodia's best practices," she said.

 

Individually safe behavior, enhanced surveillance and sequencing, increased health-care capacity, and becoming completely immunized, according to Ailan, are among these measures.

 

"There is no simple or magical answer," she noted, "but such concerted efforts by everyone and every sector at the national and local levels make a significant impact and help preserve and enhance Cambodia's outstanding achievements and success."

 

Tob Sopheak, a spokesman for the Ministry of Tourism, told Khmer Times yesterday that the government's preventative measures for the new Covid-19 form are ready to be implemented (Omicron). Furthermore, the government is improving its ability to follow each tourist's health status more efficiently.

 

"We're researching with the appropriate officials to be ready for Covid-19 and its versions," he stated. "As we endeavor to expand our capacity to serve visitors cordially, we also keep a close eye on each tourist's health," he explained.

 

Sin Chansereyvutha, a spokeswoman for the State Secretariat of Civil Aviation, told Khmer Times yesterday that entrance bans are not under their jurisdiction.

 

He did, however, point out that African nations do not send many tourists to Cambodia.

 

"Since November 15, there have been roughly 500 to 600 tourists every day through aircraft, and very few of them are from Africa," he stated. "In order to respond to the new variety of Covid-19 (B.1.1.529), we will increase our abilities to be more diligent with health assessments and preventative actions."

 

Omicron was first found in Botswana on November 24, according to WHO Africa, and is causing alarm in a number of nations across the world. The majority of health experts advise each country to be cautious about a global outbreak of this variety.

 

The variation has been confirmed and has been found in travellers travelling in from various African nations in Italy, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, Australia, Israel, and Germany.

 

In the same way, Hong Kong was the first Asian territory to discover Omicron in two inbound travellers.

 

Credit Source: Khmer Times

 

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