Travel ban lifted on passengers from 10 African countries

Following the suggestion made by Prime Minister Hun Sen last week, the Health Ministry yesterday has lifted the ban on travellers from 10 African countries or who have a history of travelling to those countries, which had been put in place over concerns after the discovery of a new strain of Covid-19 known as “Omicron”.

On November 29, Cambodia issued a decision to ban travellers from the 10 countries or who had a history of travelling to the 10 countries in the last three weeks.

The 10 countries are Botswana, Eswatini, Lesotho, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Zimbabwe, Malawi, Angola and Zambia.

But last week Mr Hun Sen said the Kingdom was considering reversing the entry ban and instead requiring PCR tests.

However, in a statement issued late last night, Health Minister and chairman of the Inter-Ministerial Committee to Combat Covid-19 Mam Bun Heng said based on the approval of Mr Hun Sen, the ministry decided to lift the ban.

It noted that the repeal of the measures would be replaced by the implementation of additional standard operating procedures (SOPs) to manage passengers arriving at the international airports in Cambodia in accordance with the “new normal”.

All such passengers must submit to a rapid test on arrival.

In case of a positive result, a PCR test must be administered and the passenger must quarantine at a place designated by the Health Ministry or local authorities.

If the PCR test result is positive, treatment is required.

If the PCR test result negative, the passenger is required to quarantine for 7 days and a PCR test should be performed on the 6th day of the quarantine.

The ministry said that passengers who have been fully vaccinated must present a Covid-19-free certificate (PCR test) 72 hours prior to arrival in Cambodia, recognised by the health authority of the host country or last-stay-country before departure to Cambodia.

Foreign travellers must book a hotel for seven days of quarantine. In case the traveller does not book the hotel, he or she must go to the bank counter to deposit $1,000 to guarantee all the expenses during 7-day quarantine at the place designated by the Health Ministry or local authorities.

Passengers who have not been fully vaccinated must present a Covid-19-free certificate (PCR test) 72 hours prior to arrival in Cambodia, recognised by the health authority of the host country or last-stay-country before departure to Cambodia.

Additionally, they also must undergo a 14-day quarantine, following the SOPs to control passengers arriving at Cambodia international airports in accordance with the “new normal”.

The ministry said the foreign travellers are encouraged to have a Covid-19 health insurance, which in Cambodia can be purchased from the Insurance Consortium, represented by Forte Insurance through the website

Source: khmer times