Migrant workers at a quarantine centre in Battambang province on January 08, 2021. Battambang Administration
Six migrant workers who returned from Thailand on January 10 and 11 have tested positive for Covid-19, bringing the total number of infected migrants to 33, according to a Ministry of Health press release on January 13.
The latest positive cases came as Prime Minister Hun Sen announced the allocation of an additional budget of 500 million riel ($122,000) among further assistance provided to Banteay Meanchey province to accommodate people in quarantine.
The health ministry said the six infected migrants are Cambodian women – four from Battambang province and two from Prey Veng province.
As of January 13, Cambodia had recorded a total of 398 Covid-19 cases with 376 recoveries. Of the 22 patients still hospitalised, 21 are returning Cambodian migrants from Thailand.
.jpg)
Separately on January 12, the Cambodian embassy in Malaysia informed nationals residing, studying and working in the country of the Malaysian government’s state of emergency declaration effective until August 1.
The Malaysian government announced that eight states and cities will be subject to travel restrictions from January 13 to 26, to stop an alarmingly high rate of Covid-19 transmissions.
Restrictions of movement include interstate travel in the affected areas and a provision allowing only two family members at a time to go out to buy food and supplies or for recreation.
The embassy warned that violators would be fined $250.
Also on January 13, the embassy issued a press release detailing its achievements in protecting Cambodians abroad during the past year, including facilitating the return of 1,074 people to Cambodia via eight specially arranged flights.
Transport was also arranged for 132 prisoners and immigration detainees through a special flight provided by the Malaysian government.
The embassy also noted that it had contributed food relief packages on behalf of the Cambodian government to a total of 3,894 families in 10 Malaysian states who were facing shortages on account of the pandemic.
Also on January 13, three Cambodian nationals arrived safely at Phnom Penh International Airport with assistance from the embassy in Kuala Lumpur.
