Phnom Penh: Beginning Sunday 18 July, Vietnamese nationals will no longer be allowed to cross the border into or out of Cambodia. The 30-day order was issued by Prime Minister Hun Sen, with Covid-19 cases surging in the Mekong Delta.

The order prohibits the entry and exit of all Vietnamese workers and other individuals, except for patients needing to be treated in Vietnam. It also provides exceptions to students, diplomats and government officials, provided they are carrying special government permission. It also prevents Vietnamese nationals from leaving Cambodia for the 30-day period. However, imports and exports are still permitted.

Covid-19 has been surging in the Mekong Delta for the past week. Ho Chi Minh is currently under a 15-day lockdown. The southern city of Can Tho went into lockdown on Tuesday. The dreaded Delta variant is behind the latest surge in cases in the border region.