Phnom Penh: Cambodia is effectively in lockdown from midnight tonight for the next 14 days. The borders with Thailand will all be closed from Friday, and a nationwide curfew will run from 9pm to 3am. Alcohol sales and dining at restaurants are also banned, across the country. The royal government fears the emergence of Delta variant cases along the border could well mean a “third wave” of Covid-19 across the kingdom, unless drastic steps are taken and they have been.

Late on Wednesday evening, Prime Minister Hun Sen announced a 14-day “Campaign to Strengthen Combat Measures and Prevent the spread of Covid-19". It takes effect at midnight on Thursday and runs through Thursday the 12th of August.

The eight provinces which border Thailand will be in lockdown and the borders will have been closed except for the transportation of goods and emergency services. High-risk businesses, which have been closed in Phnom Penh since March are now ordered closed across the entire country. In addition to this, alcohol sales have also been banned nationwide, together with a ban on dining-in at restaurants. All private gatherings are limited to 10 people.

Capital and provincial governors have also been authorized to declare red, orange and yellow zones, as required. There’s also a nationwide curfew that’ll be in effect from 9pm to 3am, starting on Friday. EAC News took to the streets to ask people what they thought about the 14-day campaign. While many were completely unaware of the new curfew, most were supportive of the measures, saying they understood they were needed.