COVID-19: Cambodia, Thailand reject lockdown possibility

Despite the spreading of Omicron variant of SARS-CoV-2, both Cambodia and Thailand affirmed that they will not impose lockdown measures.
Phnom Penh (VNA) – Despite the spreading of Omicron variant of SARS-CoV-2, both Cambodia and Thailand affirmed that they will not impose lockdown measures.

Cambodian Prime Minister Samdech Techo Hun Sen on February 22 highlighted the policy of not locking down the capital and provinces like in 2021.

No lockdown measures will be imposed to avoid chaos and goods shortages, he said.

Due to the shortage of COVID-19 treatment drug Molnatris, the PM called on private pharmacies not to raise the price of the medicine. He also revealed that his daughter and five grandchildren are infected with COVID-19.

According to Cambodia’s Ministry of Health, the country has detected 598 Omicron cases and two related deaths'. The 16-million-strong country has a COVID-19 vaccination rate of 89.99 percent.

Meanwhile, Thai Minister of Health Anutin Charnvirakul said that Thailand will not issue any lockdown order although the country has upgraded the risk of COVID-19 infection to Level 4, the second highest level, across the country.

He explained that the upgrade aims to remind people to keep safe distance and avoid mass gatherings to prevent the spreading of the virus. He called on locals to keep calm as the infection number is also rising in many countries.

He said that Thailand has enough beds in hospitals for COVID-19 patients, but advised those with no or mild symptoms to take home treatment to avoid overload on the public health care system.

On February 22, Thailand reported 18,364 new COVID-19 cases and 35 deaths', raising the totals to over 2.74 million and 22,691, respectively./.
VNA

See more

Cambodian Information Minister Neth Pheaktra speaks at the event. (Photo: VNA)

Cambodia intensifies campaign against fake news, misinformation

The initiative aims to enhance information quality in the digital era through three main strategies. These include combating the spread of fake news within Cambodia and across the Greater Mekong Subregion, promoting verified news produced by professional media organisations and digital content creators, and strengthening media literacy education for the public in Cambodia and neighbouring Mekong countries.

A child receives a measles vaccination in Sumenep, East Java, Indonesia (Photo: Antara)

Indonesia faces surge in measles cases

In response, doctors are advising parents to limit their children's exposure to large gatherings, especially during the upcoming Eid al-Fitr holiday, when families often meet in large numbers, increasing the risk of disease transmission.

Authorities in Banteay Meanchey province raids a building used for online fraud in Poipet city, arresting more than 270 people and seizing a large amount of evidence in July (Photo: AKP/VNA)

Cambodia proposes life imprisonment for leaders of online scam networks

A 2024 report by the United States Institute of Peace estimated that illicit revenues from online scams in Cambodia could exceed 12.5 billion USD annually, equivalent to roughly half of the country’s GDP. Prime Minister Hun Manet has previously said the scam centres are seriously damaging Cambodia’s economy and international image, pledging to “clean up” the problem.

Laos confirms stable fuel supply

Laos confirms stable fuel supply

Government spokesperson Sonexay Sitphaxay and Lao Deputy Minister of Industry and Commerce Chanthaboun Soukaloun provided an update on the national fuel supply situation.

Singapore diversifies its sources of imported LNG, and also has a fuel stockpile for power-generation companies to draw from. (Photo: Reuters)

Singapore adopts multiple measures to safeguard energy security

On the measures the Singapore government has in place to handle the rise in global gas prices, Tan highlighted that around half of the city-state’s gas is piped to Singapore from the region and is therefore “unaffected”. Moreover, the country diversifies its sources of imported LNG, and hence is “not overly exposed to the Middle East”, he noted.

Philippines eyes non-permanent seat in UN Security Council

Philippines eyes non-permanent seat in UN Security Council

The Philippines has been working with the UN on many important global issues for decades, and its candidacy for the Security Council serves not only the country's own interests but also aims to strengthen its overall cooperation with the world's largest multilateral organisation, President Marcos said.

An Air India Express Boeing 737-300 sits on the runway at Phuket airport shortly after making a hard landing on March 11. (Photo: Phuket International Airport)

Aircraft incident disrupts operations at Thailand’s Phuket airport

Preliminary findings indicated that the aircraft made a hard landing, resulting in damage to the landing gear and nose gear assembly. The incident caused the aircraft to veer off the runway and prevented it from being moved immediately, leading airport authorities to suspend runway operations.

Indonesian authorities rescue 34 stranded pilot whales

Indonesian authorities rescue 34 stranded pilot whales

The agency's head Imam Fauzi said his team conducted rescue operations for a total of 55 stranded whales from March 9 night to March 10 in a coordinated effort involving local security forces, conservation agencies, officials, and residents. Twenty-one whales were declared dead after stranding.

Indonesia shipped 1.8 million tonnes of palm oil to the Middle East in 2025. (Photo: REUTERS)

Middle East conflict pushes up Indonesia’s palm oil export costs

The conflict, which intensified after coordinated strikes by the US and Israel on Iran’s capital Tehran late last month, had disrupted key maritime routes through the Strait of Hormuz. As a result, some cargo vessels were delayed or forced to take longer alternative routes, raising transport expenses and maritime insurance premiums.

Minister of State Apparatus Utilization and Bureaucratic Reform Rini Widyantini (Photo: beritasatu.com)

Indonesia steps up plan to relocate civil servants to new capital

A meeting to review progress and implementation mechanisms for the relocation plan focused on office capacity in Nusantara, the availability of official housing and the criteria for selecting ministries and agencies that will relocate in the initial phase.

Delegates at the press briefing (Photo: Tempo.co)

Indonesia likely to achieve 6% growth amid geopolitical uncertainty

At a press briefing in Jakarta on March 11 to release the state budget report, Minister of Finance Purbaya Yudhi said the Indonesian economy remained in an expansionary phase, with macroeconomic indicators staying stable. He noted that first-quarter growth was expected to exceed the 5.39% recorded in the final quarter of 2025.