Phnom Penh: Prime Minister Hun Sen has asked the public for “kind understanding” during the 14-day campaign against Covid-19. He says he understands that people’s freedom of movement is restricted and that livelihoods are being affected, but says the 14-day lockdown and curfew are of critical importance in combatting the Delta variant.

He says Delta has caused havoc across Southeast Asia, as well as elsewhere around the world, but says if Cambodia does not act then many more lives will be lost. The 14-day campaign began on Friday and involves a 9pm-3am curfew across the country as well as a ban on alcohol sales and dining-in at restaurants. The provinces which share a border with Thailand are also in lockdown.

The Prime Minister says in addition to this, the newly-arrived doses of Johnson & Johnson vaccines are being administered in those provinces. Frontline workers are also receiving booster shots of AstraZeneca which were delivered by Japan last week.

Regarding the shortage of hospital beds, the Prime Minister says the Ministry of Tourism is looking at the reopening of some hotels as low-cost hospitals for middle-income Cambodians. He says this measure will also assist hotel businesses until the full reopening of borders and restart of international tourism can be approved.

Addressing the media during this morning’s launch of child vaccinations at the Peace Palace, the Prime Minister also expressed his condolences to the families of those who have lost ones since the start of the 20 February Community Transmission Event.