BATTAMBANG: As of 10 January 2022, Cambodia has found four cases of community transmission of the Omicron variant.

The first case was announced by the Ministry of Health on 8 January, and the other three cases were announced by the Prime Minister on Monday, 10 January. He made this announcement while speaking at the inauguration ceremony of the new section of National Road No. 5 from Battambang to Serei Sophorn.

Prime Minister Hun Sen stated that on Sunday, 9 January, Cambodia has identified three more cases of community transmissions of the Covid-19 Omicron variant.

In response to the pandemic, the Prime Minister confirmed that he has placed an order for an additional 5 million doses of vaccines. The Prime Minister has stated the five million vaccines will be in addition to the remaining stock of 10 million doses Cambodia has stored in a warehouse.

During his speech he also announced the provision of Pfizer vaccines for booster doses to people all across the country, with Phnom Penh as the location to receive the vaccine.

((SOUNDBITE)) Prime Minister Hun Sen:

"The Pfizer vaccine will be given to all citizens as a booster dose. For those people in the provinces who wish to get this vaccine, please come and get vaccinated in Phnom Penh, because we are all Cambodians."

On the night of Saturday, 8 January, the Ministry of Health confirmed that the first community transmitted case of the new Omicron variant in Cambodia was detected in a 23-year-old Cambodian man living in Tuol Sangke, Russey Keo, Phnom Penh.

The patient had travelled to many places between 27 December to 5 January of 2022, including Phnom Penh, Kampong Thom and Siem Reap.

The man had also visited places in Tani Touk Meas, Kampot, traveling with his cousins from Australia to Phnom Penh.

On January 5, he accompanied his cousin to a hospital, where he later tested positive for the Omicron variant.

^{PHOTO: EAC NEWS}