PM Infected with Coronavirus is Fake News, Says Health Ministry

PM Infected with Coronavirus is Fake News, Says Health Ministry

The Health Ministry today flatly denied a social media post that Prime Minister Hun Sen has been contracted with COVID-19 from an elderly US woman disembarking from MS Westerdam in Sihanoukville Autonomous Port, saying it is fake news.

Facebook account user named Neang Sokhun posted that a CPP official said that Mr. Hun Sen is infected with the virus after greeting the US woman who was confirmed to be positive for COVID-19 by Malaysian authorities on Saturday.

“It is fake news. We have asked the judicial police to legal actions against them,” said Health Ministry spokeswoman Or Vandine.

Meanwhile, Health Ministry officials today conducted retest of a specimen from the remaining 223 passengers on board the vessel to ensure that they are free from coronavirus and could fly home, according to Mang Sineth, deputy Preah Sihanouk provincial governor.

“Health officials come to take specimens from all remaining passengers to ensure they can fly home,” Mr. Sineth said, adding at the specimens will be tested at the Pasteur Institute in Phnom Penh.

Two helicopters landed on the pier in Sihanoukville Autonomous Port this morning at 6 am, with health officials and US embassy representatives. They took specimens from 233 passengers, Mr. Sineth said.

MS Westerdam was turned away from Thailand, Japan, Taiwan, Guam, and the Philippines due to fears over the spread of COVID-19. For humanitarian reasons, Cambodia allowed the ship to be anchored in the Kingdom.

The ship was allowed to dock in Sihanoukville on February 6 with 1,455 guests and 802 crew members on board as it was reported to be running low on supplies.

Khmer Times