PHNOM PENH: The Ministry of Health is reportedly monitoring cases of Covid-19 following the end of the Khmer New Year on 16 April 2022.

Ministry of Health Spokesperson, Or Vandine, has told EAC News that there had not been any large-scale Covid-19 outbreaks during the course of the Khmer New Year celebrations, however, now that the holiday has come to an end, she said that the Ministry will closely monitor the situation to make sure no outbreaks occur, waiting to assess the outcomes for at least two more weeks.

"I cannot say yet," she said. "Because [the celebrations] just ended. If there is something wrong, we do not know yet. We will know in a little while."

The Khmer New Year was held from 14-16 April this year in 2022. According to the Ministry of Tourism, more than 5.1 million tourists travelled across Cambodia for this national holiday, the highest number recorded since the Royal Government announced the closure of the 20 February Community Transmission Event in December 2021.

The Minister of Tourism, Thong Khon, said that the factors that have allowed people to go on vacation for the holiday this year include the success of the national vaccination campaign and the easing of Covid-19 restrictions, giving tourists and citizens the confidence to travel. This includes the option to not wear masks while engaging in the Khmer New Year celebrations.

As of 17 April 2022, one day after the end of the Khmer New Year, Cambodia recorded 16 new cases of Covid-19, all of the Omicron variant, and none of which were imported.