The Battambang Provincial Administration has decided to shut 27 markets throughout the province for two weeks from August 1-14 to curb the spread of the coronavirus, especially its Delta variant.

The closures come as transmission cases have increased of late, governor Nguon Ratanak said in a notice dated July 31.

Ratanak told town and district authorities to cordon off the markets but arrange space for vendors to sell essential products such as food and other daily necessities, with distancing of at least 2m to 2.5m a must.