Covid Hits Siem Reap Jail Officials and Inmates

Photo from Siem Reap Prison Facebook

Prison governor in hospital but infection source unknown



SIEM REAP--About 20 people, including the director, officers and inmates of Siem Reap Provincial Prison have tested positive for Covid-19.



Prison director Phean Chhorvan said he has been receiving treatment at Siem Reap Provincial Referral Hospital for about five days.



He was unsure how and where he contracted the virus but he sought a medical check immediately when his temperature rose.



Provincial deputy governor Ly Samrith said that at least 19 people had tested positive – four prison officials and 15 inmates.



"It may be a case of infecting each other or maybe they were all infected at the same time. We do not know for sure yet," he said.



"The first case happened to the director of the prison and it could have spread to three other guards."



The team took action to strengthen measures to prevent the virus spreading. The patients were being treated while direct and indirect contacts were kept isolated, he added.



"We treat patients with a lot of care, along with more research to reach an end to the epidemic," he said. "But this case will take a lot of time."



Covid cases have spiked recently in Cambodia, with the Ministry of Health reporting an additional 981 cases on July 7. This brings the number of known cases to 57,103 while 798 people have died from the disease since the pandemic began.



Prison inmates have contacted the virus in Phnom Penh as well as Preah Sihanouk, Kandal, Kampong Speu, Takeo and Banteay Meanchey provinces.

Additional reporting by Phoung Vantha


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