Jabs Drive Reaches Halfway Mark

Jabs Drive Reaches Halfway Mark

The Kingdom yesterday reached the halfway mark it its quest to vaccinate 10 million people in order to achieve herd immunity. The fifth millionth person was inoculated in Oddar Meanchey province.

In a statement the Health Ministry said with this milestone, 50% of the 10 million target had been met.

It identified the person as Nob Mean, 70, from the province’s O’ Svay commune in Trapaing Prasat district.

Mean received $1,250 for becoming the fifth million vaccine receipient.

In a message yesterday, Prime Minister Hun Sen congratulated him over the achievement.

Mr Hun Sen also expressed his appreciation to all doctors and relevant officials who are working hard to vaccinate the people in the province which has led to the halfway mark of the vaccination target.

“I will order Or Vandine, a secretary of state of the Ministry of Health to provide cash and other materials support directly for Oddar Meanchey province,” he said.

Kampot province yesterday launched a vaccination drive in Kampot city for people livng in high risk areas.

Provincial Governor Cheav Tay inspected the campaign at Kampot Provincial Referral Hospital.

Other locations providing inoculations are Bokor city, Chum Kiri town, Toek Chhou town and Kampong Trach district.

Stung Treng Provincial Health Department yesterday launched a 14-day vaccination campaign in Stung Treng city from yesterday until July 26.

Cambodia’s vaccination campaign is now covering 19 out of 24 provinces in the Kingdom.

Apart from Kampot and Stung Treng, the others are: Kandal, Kampong Speu, Kampong Chhnang, Pursat, Svay Rieng, Koh Kong, Preah Sihanouk, Kampong Cham, Tboung Khmum, Takeo, Banteay Meanchey, Pailin, Prey Veng, Battambang, Kampong Thom, Oddar Meanchey and Ratanakiri.

Following the green light on self-testing for Covid-19, there are now concerns over people buying inaccurate rapid test kits.

Phnom Penh health department director Dr Ngy Mean Heng appealed to the people yesterday to only use kits which are certificated and officially recognised by the Health Ministry.

He said that the ministry so far has allowed the use of four rapid test kits, namely Abott A promise For Life, Roche Holding AG, SD Biosensor and PHASE Scientific.

“I request people in Phnom Penh and other provinces to please use rapid test kits which are officially recognised by MoH,” Dr Mean Heng said. “Some rapid test kits are not accurate to diagnose Covid-19 virus. In some cases people who only have normal flu are testing positive for Covid-19 when they use such kits.”

In another development, Phnom Penh City Hall yesterday decided to temporarily suspend the Phsar Kandal market in Daun Penh district to prevent a large-scale spread of Covid-19.

It said that this market will be closed for 14 days from yesterday until July 26.

This is after 17 security guards and vendors tested positive for Covid-19 on Monday.

City Hall has ordered all security guards, vendors and some customers who were in contact with the victims to go for swab tests and quarantine for 14 days if they test negative.

It warned that those who do not comply that they would be fined between $250 and $2,500 according to the law on measures to prevent the spread of Covid-19 and other deadly infectious diseases.

Oddar Meanchey provincial administration yesterday reported 150 new cases of Covid-19 and 56 recoveries. It said 149 of the victims were migrant workers who returned from Thailand and the other case is linked to the February 20 Community Event.

A provincial report on Monday said that Oddar Meanchey has recorded 1,975 Covid-19 victims of whom 427 had recovered and 1,544 are still being treated. There were four deaths.

The Siem Reap provincial administration on Monday reported one death and 106 new Covid-19 cases. It said there were 109 recoveries.

Provincial authorities identified the fatality as Nith Neav, 49, from Phlong village, Leang Dai commune in Angkor Thom district.

He was diagnosed with Covid-19 at 3pm on July 5 and died at 6pm on Monday from pneumonia caused by the virus.

So far, Siem Reap province has found a total of 2,553 positive cases of Covid-19. Of these, 927 have recovered and 1,596 cases are being treated. There were 25 deaths.

Siem Reap Provincial Administration appealed to people who were directly or indirectly in contact with the patients to test for Covid-19 and go into quarantine for 14 days if they are found negative.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Health yesterday reported 830 new cases of Covid-19, bringing the total number in the Kingdom to 62,700. Of the new cases, 217 are imported and the rest are linked to the February 20 Community Event.

The ministry also announced that 28 more people had died from Covid-19, bringing the total number of fatalities to 953.

At the same time, the ministry also recorded 1,012 recoveries, bringing the total number in the Kingdom to 54,489.