Ministry of Health spokeswoman Or Vandine on May 11 said Cambodia had detected its first case of a highly infectious coronavirus variant first identified in India – officially known as B.1.617 – in a passenger that has since recovered.

“Cambodia has detected a new variant which is spreading within India and to other countries. It’s an imported case and the patient has already recovered,” she said, adding that the strain does not appear to be spreading in the Kingdom.

The SARS-CoV-2 B.1.1.7 variant, which was first detected in the UK, has also been found in Cambodia.

Vandine added: “I appeal to our people to be utmost vigilant. Although the number of [new daily] Covid-19 cases in the country is dropping, we must not forget that the virus has not gone away. It continues to attack Cambodia as well as the whole world.”