18 - 22 May | KEEPING YOU INFORMED: RECENT ANNOUNCEMENTS BY THE ROYAL GOVERNMENT
With the COVID-19 situation continuing to evolve everyday in Cambodia, EuroCham will be regularly disseminating the official announcements from the Royal Government to ensure our network is updated as efficiently as possible.
Due to the significant number of incoming announcements, we are unable to translate these in full so please refer to our summaries below and the attached official notices in Khmer.
Official Announcements: 18 - 22 May
(English summaries provided by EuroCham Cambodia, subject to corrections by relevant authorities)
1. Inter-Ministerial Committee to Combat COVID-19 Announcement on Lifting Travel Restrictions
On 20 May, the Inter-Ministerial Committee to Combat COVID-19 issued an announcement that the Committe has lifted the travel restrictions for foreigners coming from Iran, Italy, Germany, Spain, France, and the United States. All Cambodian nationals and foreigners traveling to Cambodia are required to show a health certificate recognised by their country of departure that indicates that they are free of COVID-19 within 72 hours of departing. In addition, foreigners must have health insurance coverage of at least US$50,000 during their stay in Cambodia (except for diplomats representing foreign countries and international organisations who hold diplomatic visa type A and official visa type B).
On arrival, all Cambodian and foreign travelers entering Cambodia shall be tested for COVID-19. If there is one or more positive test result found, other passengers will be required to undertake 14 days quarantine in an assigned site. If all passengers are tested negative, each traveler will be allowed to complete the 14 days quarantine at their own house and will be tested again on the 13th day after quarantine. This announcement is effective from 20 May 2020 onwards.
2. Ministry of Health Letter to Inform Municipal and Provincial Governors to Strengthen and Monitor the Implementation of Protective Measures to Prevent a Second Wave of COVID-19
On 19 May, the Ministry of Health notified Municipal and Provincial administrations to strengthen and monitor the implementation of protective measures to prevent a potential second wave of COVID-19. The letter outlined that Cambodia continues to implement preventative strategies including tracing individuals that have had direct or indirect contact with COVID-19, immediate reporting, urgent quarantine, and treatment in state hospitals.
The Ministry also notified authorities at the sub-national level to continue to prevent infections by enforcing the followings key instructions:
- Continue activities of the Municipal and Provincial Committee to Combat COVID-19.
- Municipal and Provincial authorities continue to monitor and instruct people to follow protective measures of the “new normal life” by sanitising hands, wearing masks, covering coughs and sneezes with a scarf and to social distance.
- Continue to ban large gatherings, such as parties or religious gatherings until the issuance of a new notice in September 2020.
- Monitor and check restaurants, bars and food courts as well as other shops to ensure owners are following the protective measures responsibly, such as sanitising hands, wearing masks (if necessary) and social distancing, so their customers and staff do not spread infections in their restaurants or businesses. Failure to follow these protective measures, businesses will be shut down to prevent a second wave of infections.
3. Ministry of Mines and Energy Prakas on Implementing the Exemption and Incentive Plan for Electricity Consumption
On 19 May, the Ministry of Mines and Energy issued Prakas No. 0198 to implement the exemption and incentive plan for industrial, agricultural, commercial and service electricity consumers from June until October 2020. This Prakas is aimed at supporting businesses which have suspended or slowed operations during the fight against COVID-19, by encouraging electricity consumption to increase production and business activities. The Prakas stated that the exemptions and incentives from June to October include, requiring businesses to only pay the electricity per kilowatt hour consumed by waiving various payment conditions. This Prakas is effective after the date of signature until the plan in Article 1 is finished.
4. Ministry of Health Letter on Reopening Museums across the Country
On 19 May, the Ministry of Health issued letter No. 96 to the Minister of Culture and Fine Arts referencing the Prime Minister’s decision that all museums are permitted to reopen for national and international guests from June 2020 onwards. However, the Ministry of Culture and Fine Arts shall implement the protective measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19, such as checking temperature, hand sanitising, social distancing, wearing masks and rejecting any person who is unwell.
5. Inter-Ministerial Committee Press Release on the Revised Measures to Restart the Sports Sector
On 22 May, following the Prime Minister’s decision, the Inter-Ministerial Committee to Combat COVID-19 issued a press release to permit the sports sector to restart their activities step by step by respecting the preventive measures. Official sports of the National Federation of Sports are permitted to restart, while only the athletes and officials of no more than 100 persons are permitted to participate in matches, and audiences are not permitted. Gatherings of national sport teams for training are also permitted. These permitted activities must be conducted in accordance with the Ministry of Health preventive measures against COVID-19.
6. Ministry of Education Youth and Sport Announcement on Preventing and Protecting Against the Spread of COVID-19
On 20 May, the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sport issued announcement No. 30 to the President of the National Federation of Sports and owners of gyms, requiring them to adjust to the new way of living by implementing social distancing and other preventive measures to stop the spread of COVID-19, such as by sanitising hands, wearing masks and checking temperatures. The announcement also stated that gatherings for athletes training, the re-opening of gyms, and restarting sports league matches are not yet permitted.
7. State Secretariat of Civil Aviation of Cambodia Notice on Travel Restrictions
On 20 May, the Sate Secretariat of Civil Aviation of Cambodia issued notice No. 304 to local airlines, foreign airlines and commercial private jets operating in and out of Phnom Penh, Siem Reap and Preah Sihanouk International Airports regarding the recommendations from the Prime Minister on revising the travel restriction measures. Entry is now permitted for the countries previously banned, which include Iran, Italy, Germany, Spain, France and the United States of America.