WHO warns Cambodia on brink of “national tragedy”

The World Health Organisation (WHO) Cambodia Representative Office has warned that the Southeast Asian country is now standing on the brink of a national tragedy due to COVID-19 despite efforts to control the pandemic.
WHO warns Cambodia on brink of “national tragedy” ảnh 1An official of the Cambodian Ministry of Information is vaccinated against COVID-19 in Phnom Penh on April 1 (Photo: AFP/VNA)
Phnom Penh (VNA) – The World HealthOrganisation (WHO) Cambodia Representative Office has warned that the SoutheastAsian country is now standing on the brink of a national tragedy due toCOVID-19 despite efforts to control the pandemic.

WHO said Cambodia has reached another criticalpoint amid a sudden and huge surge in community transmission cases and deaths.

New cases occur every day, and unless thecountry can stop the outbreak, its health system is at high risk of beingoverwhelmed, which could have disastrous consequences, said WHO Representativeto Cambodia Li Ailan.

She also commended a series of anti-COVID-19measures taken by the government, including an inter-provincial travel ban andnighttime curfew, to break the chain of transmission.

The representative also suggested that peoplestay home during the Khmer New Year holiday (from April 14 to 16) to minimiserisks of infection.

On April 11, the Cambodian government issued an8-article ordinance on mandatory COVID-19 vaccinations for government officialsand armed force members, warning that those who avoid vaccinations will bedisciplined. 

The ordinance also explains thatthe mandatory vaccination does not apply to individuals who have beenconfirmed by a health authority to be unable to vaccinate due to their healthconditions.

So far, 678,406 people and 216,903 militaryofficers and soldiers in Cambodia have been vaccinated against COVID-19. Thecountry is using three COVID-19 vaccines, namely Sinopharm, AstraZeneca/SII,and Sinovac.

The country has recorded 4,238 infection cases,including 2,152 recoveries and 29 fatalities./.
VNA

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