Cambodia has now gone two days without a COVID death, with only four new cases reported.

[ASEAN NOW]

 

Cambodia has seen its second consecutive COVID-free day, with daily new cases remaining at extraordinarily low levels, maintaining an 82-day unbroken streak of 'new normal' ultra-low rates.

After ten months of suffering caused by the February 20 Community Event, Prime Minister Hun Sen declared the scourge officially over yesterday.

 

The official daily new COVID case total (as determined by PCR test) was 4, increasing the overall number of COVID cases to 120,427.

 

With 'local' Omicron transmissions now documented in Thailand and Singapore, recent cases of Omicron identified on inbound travelers at Phnom Penh Airport will heighten fears of a 'Omicron' wave sweeping Cambodia, which is still lagging behind in implementing the third 'booster' dose.

 

Migrant workers flowing across the border from Thailand and Vietnam could also be a source of Omicron.

 

"There are more than 200 migrant laborers returning per day," Banteay Meanchey deputy governor Ngoun Mengchroun said yesterday that authorities on both sides of the border are working hard and that the number of returnees is growing.

 

Omicron, which is highly transmissible and has a high rate of reinfection, has now spread to more than 90 nations around the world, with Cambodia joining a list that includes Thailand, Singapore, as well as countries in America, Asia, Europe, and Australia.

 

According to research from the University of Hong Kong (HKU), two doses of BioNtech or Sinovac do not create enough blood antibodies against the novel Omicron virus type in most people.

 

Cambodians, on the other hand, appear to be hesitant to take advantage of the crucial third dose.

 

According to available data, Cambodia has given out approximately 3.07 million booster doses, or about 18.09 percent of the population (see below)

The Royal Government's valiant efforts to vaccinate Cambodians with the first and second doses may be jeopardized by the low uptake of the third immunization.

 

PM Hun Sen said the government will launch a strong campaign to encourage those who have been double-vaccinated to obtain their booster shots, particularly the elderly, children, and frontline workers.

 

Despite the threat of Omicron, Cambodia is forging ahead with reopening, and the Royal Government's focus is now on reestablishing a "new normal" and reintroducing Cambodia to tourism and business by treating lesser cases of COVID at home.

 

The arrival of the first foreign passenger flight at Siem Reap International Airport in 20 months was received with joy today.

 

However, whether the discovery of Omicron in Cambodia will change these intentions remains to be seen.

 

As previously stated, the dramatic drop in reported cases is due to a strategy implemented in October that excludes 'quick' testing and'mild' COVID-19 cases from the official daily case counts.

 

Under the prior reporting scheme, there was a general increasing tendency in the Kingdom, but the last 82 days' results have entirely reversed this pattern, as seen in the graph below (please note that results may be up to 2 days behind):

Other statistics show that there are now 100,567 Community Instances, with 19,860 cases being imported.

 

Today, only one imported case was announced, continuing the trend of fewer imported cases.

 

Cambodia also reported 0 new deaths, bringing the total number of COVID-19-related deaths in Cambodia to 3005.

 

As active cases decreased, 12 recoveries were announced; there are presently only 600 active COVID cases detected by PCR test in Cambodia.

 

Credit Source: Khmer Times

 

Join our 3x a week Cambodian News, Travel and Expat information newsletter - Click to Subscribe

 

Discover Cigna’s range of health insurance solutions created for expats and local nationals living in Thailand - click to view