PHNOM PENH: After Prime Minister Hun Sen released a special voice message on Tuesday evening urging for the reduction of gatherings in the country due to a sharp rise in Omicron cases (which reached a new single-day high on Tuesday with 200 cases), the Minister of Health, Mam Bunheng, issued a warning on the steady and worrying rise of Omicron cases.

"Measures to prevent the spread of Covid-19 disease have not yet been strictly and rigorously implemented, especially in gatherings, which are increasing without proper implementation of health measures, and increasing the possibility of Covid-19 transmission every day,” said Minister Mam Bunheng.

He continued, "Omicron is rapidly moving around the world without borders and without passports, in the region and in Cambodia, which requires citizens to be vigilant and adequately prepared to respond to Covid-19 in a timely manner to avoid public health disasters, impacts on family and socioeconomic wellbeing, as well as to avoid a return to the hardships of daily life, and to ensure the sustainability of living in the new normal.”

The Minister called on all people to continue strictly implementing health measures, especially the "3 Dos and 3 Don’ts", get vaccinated against Covid-19 (both the basic doses and the booster doses), and follow the instructions of Prime Minister Hun Sen.

The Ministry of Health has also advised people to remain tolerant as Cambodia learns to live with the presence of Covid-19 and is careful in the process of reopening the country and economy.