Samdech Hun Sen Orders School Buildings Used As Covid-19 Treatment Centres

• 23 March 2020
• Local News
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Prime Minister of Cambodia Samdech Hun Sen ordered all provincial governors, who are Chairmen of the Committee for the Prevention of COVID-19 in their respective provincial administrations, to designate one or two schools for the treatment of patients with COVID-19.

This serious and urgent measure was immediately taken by the PM following the news of 29 French and two Cambodians who became infected in Sihanoukville, according to the update from Ministry of Health on 22 March 2020.

“Due to the increasing number of patients, especially in Sihanoukville province and after discussing with H.E. Mam Bunheng the Minister of Health, therefore we decided to set one or two schools in each province to be used as a treatment place for patients with COVID-19,” said the PM via telegram message on 23 March 2020.

“It is urgent that each provincial administration must pay high attention. The designated schools must be well equipped with facilities such as water and an electricity supply system. Additionally, all provincial administrations must use all resources such as police and military forces to effectively solve this problem,” ordered the Prime Minister.

“Phnom Penh is not a question because we now have Khmer-Soviet Friendship Hospital, located in Chak Angre, Military Hospital and The Great Duke Hotel (formally known as the Intercontinental Hotel),” added the PM. (Read more)

Similar measures had been taken on the Diamond Princess Cruise Ship, which was used as a quarantine location for the passengers who contracted the disease. Eventually, the virus contagion in the ship increased from 10 to more than 600 cases in two weeks. Scientists suspected that the spread was due to the air conditioning system of the cruise ship.

Based on that case, the government and respective bodies in Cambodia must ensure that the use of air conditioning in the designated schools is safe. They must take actions to make sure that no further contagion can take place through virus-loaded droplets from air conditioning in the designated schools or in other treatment buildings. (Read more)

• Safety and Health