PHNOM PENH: The Omicron virus is a new variant designated by the WHO as a variant of “concern”. On Monday night, Cambodia has taken the decision to impose a temporary ban on passengers traveling or transiting through 10 African countries. The Ministry of Health says it is a precaution as several countries in the world have already recorded Covid-19 cases with Omicron variant.

Following countries such as USA, Canada, Brazil, Great Britain, the European Union, Saudi Arabia, Japan, Russia and Australia, Cambodia will also ban travels from travelers coming from ten African countries.

The State Secretariat of Civil Aviation of the Kingdom of Cambodia presents its compliment to all local airlines of Cambodia, foreign airlines, and commercial private jets operating into and out of Phnom Penh, Siem Reap, and Preah Sihanouk International Airports and, with reference to the announcement made by the Ministry of Health on Monday.

It says that with the new emerging COVID- I9 variant named Omicron, the Ministry of Health has decided to ban into the Kingdom of Cambodia, on temporary basis until new further notice, for travelers from ten African countries, or those who travel from or transit in these ten African countries, or ever travelled to these ten African countries within the last three (03) weeks before the time of entry into Cambodia by air transportation, with effective 48 hours following the release of this announcement dated 29 November 2021. These ten African countries include: Botswana, Eswatini, Lesotho, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Zimbabwe, Malawi, Angola, and Zambia.

The Secretariat of State for Civil Aviation confirms that exemptions for vaccinated passengers will continue as usual, despite concerns about the spread of the new Omicron Covid-19 virus.

On 17 November the Secretariat of State for Civil Aviation confirmed that all passengers who already vaccinated and have a vaccine certified for 72 hours before entering Cambodia and had purchased health insurance were not required to do quarantine if they had a negative test of Covid 19.

The Secretariat of State for Civil Aviation states that the measure remains in place as usual for all passengers except those banned from entering Cambodia who have traveled or had a history of traveling to 10 African countries during the three weeks before coming to Cambodia.