Phnom Penh: Prime Minister Hun Sen has asked the religious sector to consider cancelling Pchum Ben or limit the gathering of people in pagodas in a voice message on Thursday afternoon. This was following the discovery of Covid-19 patients in several pagodas across the country. Two of the pagodas that was hit by Covid-19 are Phnom Penh’s Neak Voan, located in Tuol Kork district, with three people tested positive and Ben 1 at Wat Champouk K'aek in Chbar Ampov district with 45 cases discovered.

The Prime Minister has called on the monk leaders to discuss with the Ministry of Health to come up with the best solution. This is to avoid the further spread of Covid-19 in the kingdom. He has asked the Ministry of Cults and Religions to hold the meeting with the clergy and the health ministry whether Pchum Ben should be suspended or not. He says that if suspending the Pchum Ben is not the best idea, then they should consider to limit the people gathering in pagodas.

In response to Prime Minister Hun Sen, the Ministry of Cults and Religions has immediately released a statement announcing to ban gathering of people in Phnom Penh pagodas during Pchum Ben. It has stated that the preventative measures against Covid-19 such as the “3 do’s and 3 don’ts” must be strictly implemented during this Khmer religious holiday.