Phnom Penh municipal governor Khuong Sreng has ordered the 14 district administrations to patrol their jurisdictions and to detain any individuals they encounter outside of their homes without permission and those who drive cars or motorbikes on the road in violation of the government’s lockdown measure.

In an audio message to the district governors, Sreng said: “Individuals who are not on duty and caught driving motorbikes or cars on the road in violation of the lockdown must be detained by the authorities and brought to court for punishment in accordance with the law.”

Sreng warned that if the authorities in charge of monitoring the roadblocks continued to allow such activities, then the lockdown would not be successful and it would fail to halt the transmission of Covid-19 in the community.

"Patrol the area within your jurisdiction with utmost responsibility," he said.

Sen Sok district police chief Hour Meng Vang told The Post on April 20 that in his district, police were in charge of patrolling the territory 24 hours a day without letting any gatherings or travelling in violation of the lockdown prohibitions occur anywhere.

"We follow the instructions. The first step is lock down the streets going from one district to another district. And we then patrol along the streets and if there is a gathering outside, we will tell them to go back into the house,” said Meng Vang.

Meng Vang added that he did not allow gatherings inside the house either and for his entire district he would not allow anyone to travel during the day or night unless for medical reasons or other emergencies.

National Police chief Neth Savoeun on April 20 ordered the units guarding institutional buildings to deploy as needed to other places in the lockdown areas to provide assistance while also maintaining watch over their usual target location.

"The National Police force must pay attention to educate family members not to leave their homes or residences unless absolutely necessary," he said.