PM Hun Sen Orders Weddings to be Cancelled as COVID-19 Spreads in Provinces
PM Hun Sen delivers remarks during a press conference on March 4 at Calmette Hospital. Photo from PM Hun Sen Facebook Page.
- Phoung Vantha
- March 15, 2021 11:18 AM
Wedding ceremonies in Takeo and Kampot provinces have been the source of further outbreaks in Cambodia, prompting Prime Minister Hun Sen to order a temporary suspension of social gatherings.
PHNOM PENH--Prime Minister Hun Sen on March. 15 ordered provincial governors to temporarily suspend weddings and other events to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
The order came after two more cases of COVID-19 were found in Takeo and Kampot provinces on March 15 after they had attended a wedding ceremony.
Hun Sen said that provincial governors have had the right and the power to open and close social activities, but noted that so far few authorities had exercised these powers—hence why he was now ordering weddings and social gatherings to be banned.
“I would like to ask the provincial governors and the capital governor to consider and issuing an order to temporarily suspend weddings or other ceremonies in their provinces,” he said.
Takeo provincial authorities said that, as of March 15, they have identified 380 people who have come into direct and indirect contact with a person who contracted COVID-19 after attending a wedding in Samrong District, Takeo Province on March 12.
The patient was Kakada Sophorn, a social media influencer who has achieved modest fame from his videos on TikTok. He announced he had tested positive for COVID-19 on March 14.
Deputy Governor of Takeo Province Ly Saveth said that among the 380, at least 25 had direct contact with Sophorn as they were all related. The site of the wedding has since been locked down as authorities continue to track, trace and test those involved, he added.
People who had direct and indirect contact with Sophorn have been found as far as Kampong Speu Province, with Provincial Governor Vei Samnang stating that four people have been tested and quarantined in relation to the March 12 wedding in Takeo Province.
Similarly, a separate wedding on March 14 in Chhouk District, Kampot Province has resulted in more than five people coming into direct contact with another person who has since tested positive for COVID-19. All five have been tested and quarantined, according to Chhouk District Governor Khieu Rithy Phaon, who added that other wedding guests have already returned to Phnom Penh.
He also noted that the person who contracted the virus prior to the wedding had attended while waiting for COVID-19 test results.
Following the incident, the Kampot provincial administration issued a notice temporarily suspending weddings, parties and religious gatherings until further notice.
Ministry of Health Spokesperson Or Vandine called on people who have not yet received their COVID-19 test results to stay home while they wait for the results.
As of March 15, Cambodia’s latest community outbreak has infected some 810 people and spread through Phnom Penh, along with nine other provinces: Kandal, Preah Sihanouk, Kampong Thom, Kampong Cham, Prey Veng, Koh Kong, Siem Reap, Battambang and Svay Rieng.
This brings the total number of COVID-19 cases up to 1,325, with 730 recoveries recorded along with one death that has been officially documented as related to COVID-19.
