Cambodia cancels fest to prevent virus surge

PHNOM PENH: The Cambodian government has said it will cancel the three-day Water Festival scheduled to take place in late October in an effort to prevent the spread of Covid-19.

A letter dated August 11 and obtained by Khmer Times yesterday said: “The government has approved the cancellation of the 2020 Water Festival.”

Ek Tha, spokesman for the office of the Council of Ministers, said Friday the government has good reason to suspend the festival as authorities have been concerned over how they would implement virus transmission prevention measures at the event.

“At Cambodia’s Water Festival, tens of thousands of people gather to enjoy the traditional event around the river fronts of Tonle Sap and the four arms of the Mekong,” he said.

Tha said that in the current climate, it is not appropriate to hold the event, especially one which will draw such large crowds. “Although we do not have community transmission in the country, we don’t want to take the risk,” he said.

The water festival is due to be held between October 30 and November 1. Meanwhile, four Cambodian men who returned from Russia and Indonesia late last month have recently tested positive for Covid-19, bringing the total number of infections in the country to 272.

In a statement issued yesterday, the Health Ministry said three of the men, aged between 26 and 30, were on board the flight that flew from Russia via Malaysia and arrived in Phnom Penh on July 19.

The statement said they tested positive for the virus yesterday after their sixth test and are now receiving treatment at the Kampong Speu Provincial Referral Hospital.

The fourth man, a 27-year-old, also tested positive for the virus yesterday after his fifth test while in quarantine. He returned on a direct flight from Indonesia on July 23. He is now receiving treatment at Norodom Sihanouk Tboung Khmum Hospital in Tboung Khmum province’s Suong city.

Source: TheManila Times