Phnom Penh: Phnom Penh’s “high-risk” businesses are hoping the latest 14-day extension to their closure will be the last and that they will be allowed to reopen from Sunday 4 July. The Capital Administration announced a further extension at the weekend, for 14 days through Saturday 3 July.

Schools, vocational training centres, KTVs, nightclubs, beer gardens, casinos, museums, massage parlours and gyms are all deemed to be “high-risk” for Covid-19 infection. They’ve been closed since March. In addition to those business still shuttered, the Phnom Penh Capital Administration says it might decide to suspend other business activities, if cases do not start coming down. It says officials will also tighten up the monitoring of private gatherings. Any gathering of more than 15 people are currently banned until further notice.



But there is light at the end of the tunnel. Health officials said last week that Phnom Penh’s mass vaccination drive will be complete by the 8th of July, after which a study will conducted into the possible vaccination of the capital’s children. With the capital fully vaccinated, a full reopening could well be considered early next month.