PHNOM PENH: The Kingdom of Cambodia has decided to lift the ban on travelers from 10 African countries, replacing it with new measures to enter the country. The announcement was released on Sunday evening by the Ministry of Health. It was a week ago when the health ministry decided to ban travelers from Bosnia, Herzegovina, Lesotho, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Malawi, South Angola and Zambia.

Las Thursday, Prime Minister Hun Sen has ordered the Ministry of Health to consider lifting the ban from those 10 African countries but with strengthened health measures such as requiring PCR test. He emphasized that there is nothing to fear with the new variant of Covid-19 as long as there are proper safety health measures in place.

On the new announcement, the Ministry of Health revised the health measures by requiring a seven days quarantine for passengers coming from the 10 African countries mentioned and others considered as “countries of concern”.

A PCR test confirming that the traveler is negative of Covid-19 will be asked by the Ministry. They also still need to undergo rapid test upon arrival. If the test is negative, travelers will proceed to the booked hotel for a week quarantine. If they have not booked a hotel, they are required to deposit $1000. For those who will test positive, they will proceed to treatment centres.

The Ministry has also specified that a health insurance is required covering Covid-19 expenses. That is in case the traveler will test positive for Covid-19. If the rapid test shows positive upon arrival, another test will be conducted through PCR testing.

Meanwhile, unvaccinated travelers arriving in Cambodia are required to undergo 14 days quarantine.