PM urges vigilance as another Covid-19 patient discharged

PM urges vigilance as another Covid-19 patient discharged

(Phnom Penh Post): As another Covid-19 patient recovered, Prime Minister Hun Sen again appealed to citizens to remain vigilant against the disease.

The Ministry of Health announced on Tuesday that a 75-year-old patient recovered from Covid-19 in Kampong Chhnang province.

The patient, who also suffered from high blood pressure and diabetes, was discharged from the hospital after two Covid-19 tests returned negative.

In a Facebook post on Tuesday, Hun Sen said the world is still concerned about the Covid-19 pandemic because, in the blink of an eye, the number of cases had risen to more than four million.

The post further said that though Cambodia had not detected new cases for nearly a month, people had to be vigilant and follow the ministry’s guidance.

“In our country, though many have recovered and there have not been new cases, people must remain vigilant and practice regular hygiene such as frequent hand washing and wearing facemasks or scarves,” he said.

A notice released by the ministry confirmed that the 75-year-old man in Kampong Chhnang and a female patient from Banteay Meanchey province who were both treated for Covid-19 were referred to Khmer–Soviet Friendship Hospital in Phnom Penh on May 8.

Ministry spokesperson Or Vandine did not respond to The Post’s requests for comment on Tuesday.

But at a press conference on Monday, World Health Organisation (WHO) Representative in Cambodia Dr. Li Ailan warned that opening the economy too fast combined with people’s lack of vigilance could make Cambodia susceptible to a large-scale infection in the future.

Vandine also confirmed at the press conference that Cambodia has yet to escape the threat of Covid-19. She urged people to continue practicing social distancing.

She emphasized that the ministry’s regulations and measures remained in effect and were yet to be relaxed.

“In the meantime, we will strengthen [the measures] further to organize the medical system to ensure we are ready if there is a second spread,” she said.

Meantime, the Chinese Embassy in Cambodia announced on Tuesday that medical materials for Covid-19 arrived from China on the nights of May 11 and 13.

The embassy said the materials included 50,016 test kits, 18,000 sets of protective suits, 30,000 goggles, and 200 temperature scanners.

China will continue donating aid in the form of protective suits, facemasks, and other materials in support of the effort to stem the virus.

At the press conference, Vandine said the female Covid-19 patient was the last known case of the disease in the Kingdom.

She said it took a long time for the patient to recover as she suffered from psychological problems and didn’t sleep enough, which made her antibodies weak. However, she said the patient’s health remained stable.