British C-19 patient discharged from hospital

British COVID-19 patient being discharged from the Khmer-Soviet Friendship Hospital in Phnom Penh. Khmer-Soviet Friendship Hospital

Another COVID-19 patient was discharged from hospital yesterday, bringing the total number of recoveries to 275, or 99.65 per cent, according to the Ministry of Health.

In a statement, the ministry identified the latest recovered patient as a 54-year-old British man who had  travelled from the United Kingdom through the Netherlands transiting in South Korea before arriving in Phnom Penh on September 11.

He was subsequently quarantined at the Khmer-Soviet Friendship Hospital and afterward underwent two simultaneous virus screens, both of which came out negative.

At present, one active case remains, a Hungarian man being treated at Siem Reap Provincial Hospital.

The emergency response team of the Siem Reap Provincial Health Department and the Department of Communicable Disease Control of the Ministry of Health, in collaboration with the WHO and the US Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, have been conducting research on those who had contact with the Hungarian man. His wife, a tuk-tuk driver and a taxi driver have been given a health-check and quarantined for 14 days.

The 84 other passengers on his flight have been contacted by the Ministry of Health’s emergency response team to test them a second time. When the results are available, the ministry will provide information.

Health Ministry spokeswoman Or Vandine said that despite the patient’s recovery, doctors will continue to conduct follow-up checks to ensure the virus does not reoccur.

“Our doctors advised him to continue to protect himself against the disease and continue to be vigilant,” she said.

She urged people to continue practicing social distancing and observe proper hygiene at all times.

“Transmission is on the rise due to travel, especially with people being careless,” she said. “I call on people to follow the ministry guidelines and avoid close contact with other people to reduce the risk of infection.”

Karim Rosat, a former COVID-19 patient in Battambang province, said that after he recovered he had to quarantine himself at home.

“Doctors often call to ask about my health condition,” he added.

Addressing the public, the Communicable Disease Control Department in Cambodia yesterday said: “We must continue observing social distancing by avoiding large gatherings, including deferring celebrations of weddings and holding of parties or dance events. We need to continue wearing masks when necessary and always maintain good hygiene.”

As of September 27, Cambodia has tested a total of 134,321 people.

Cambodia’s total of 276 COVID-19 cases, including recoveries, comprise of 174 Cambodians, 41 French, 17 Chinese, 13 Malaysians, eight Indonesians, seven Americans, six British, three Vietnamese, three Canadians, one Belgian, one Indian, one Kazakhstani and one Hungarian.

Since the first case was detected in Preah Sihanouk province in late January, the COVID-19 pandemic has hit 13 provinces and the capital.

Credited: Khmer Times