Cambodian PM considers to put country in state of emergency over COVID-19 spread

PHNOM PENH -- Cambodian Prime Minister Samdech Techo Hun Sen said on Wednesday that he is considering to put the country in a state of emergency after a spike of COVID-19 cases.

"I'm letting (the legal team) examine the possibility to use the Article 22 of the Constitution to request the King to put the country in a state of emergency," he said during a meeting with a group of volunteer doctors in Phnom Penh.

"I don't want to use this (measure), but I will if my appeal produces no effect," he said.

The Article 22 of the Constitution said when the nation faces danger, the king shall put the country in a state of emergency after agreement with the prime minister and the presidents of the National Assembly and the Senate.

Meanwhile, Hun Sen said the Southeast Asian country has prepared hotels, vocational training centers and school-dorms with more than 3,000 rooms into standby facilities to treat people with COVID-19.

He advised health officials and local authorities to use loudspeakers to broadcast health warnings and advice on preventing virus transmission across the country.

"I call on people not to leave home if unnecessary," he said, advising people to practice hygiene and to contact a 115 hotline if they have any suspicious symptoms of the virus.

Hun Sen also warned to seize face masks and close drugstores that sell face masks in high prices.

Cambodia has recorded a total of 93 confirmed cases of the COVID-19 to date. Six Chinese, one British and four Cambodian have fully recovered and been discharged from hospitals.

Last week, the country banned foreigners from Italy, Germany, Spain, France, the United States, and Iran from entering the country for 30 days.

Also, the kingdom ordered the closures of all schools, karaoke clubs, night clubs, cinemas, and museums nationwide, with religious gatherings and concerts also being prohibited.

The prime minister assured that the country will not shut down markets, restaurants, coffee shops and garment factories.