Phnom Penh: The World Health Organization in Cambodia says the kingdom has turned a corner in its fight against the pandemic. WHO country representative, Dr Li Ailan, says the government is responding well with new strategies, which have led to a marked drop in the infection rate, along with the rapid rollout of vaccines, but she says the country can’t let its guard down just yet.

The WHO has praised government’s vaccination campaign, bringing jabs to remote areas and the most vulnerable people. With the Kingdom’s health’s efforts, hospitalization and death rates are dropping, but Dr Li Ailan worries that the success of vaccines in preventing severe disease, could cause the virus to spread unnoticed. She says Cambodians must remain cautious.

The WHO has also said the royal government has done the right thing in “rebooting its approach”, focusing on specific goals such as preventing the surge of more transmissible variants. She has advised that preventative measures must continue to be enforced and that virus analysis must also continue. Dr Ailan has praised Kandal’s strategy of moving its markets to sport fields and limiting the number of shoppers to ensure physical distancing.

She says “No community is safe until every community is safe. Everyone must play their role responsibly. Only then can we curb the spread of Covid-19 and look forward to a brighter future.”