Prime Minister Hun Sen on June 19 announced that he had been indirectly exposed to Covid-19 and would continue to quarantine until July 3. He first placed himself in isolation on June 19.

Hun Sen said this has prompted him to cancel all planned in-person and virtual meetings, including one with British Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab scheduled for June 23.

“Although the meetings with Cambodian and foreign guests have been cancelled, I will continue to work as usual with [government] institutions and the armed forces via Zoom, during which no one can come close to me,” he said.

The prime minister did not specify whom he had been in contact with and if he had rescheduled an in-person meeting with the UK foreign minister.

Reached for comment on June 20, UK deputy ambassador to Cambodia Marc Thayre told The Post that the embassy could not reveal the meeting agendas with the press.

“[But] it would have been about bilateral relations. A press release will be issued after his visit with details,” he said.

Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation spokesman Koy Kuong told a reporter to wait for an official press release when asked about the meeting.

Just one day before Hun Sen’s surprise announcement, the National Police held a meeting with British embassy representatives to prepare for the visit. Deputy National Police chief Chhay Sinarith said at the meeting that Raab had planned to pay a two-day visit from June 22-23 during which he will meet with Prime Minster Hun Sen and foreign minister Prak Sokhonn.

The National Police said Raab also planned to visit Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum and the Documentation Centre of Cambodia.