Casinos in the Cambodian border town of Bavet have been ordered to close down again due to a surge in Covid-19 cases. The order came from Governor Men Vibol of Svay Rieng Province, reported the Cambodian Daily.
According to the local Ministry of Health, Svay Rieng has recorded a total of 304 cases of Covid-19, with 230 currently active. There were 624 new cases reported across the country on April 19, for a total national tally exceeding 7,000.
The latest Covid-19 outbreak originated with a February incident in which four Chinese nationals bribed their way out of a quarantine hotel and visited several nightclubs, reports the Phnom Penh Post. Two of those Chinese nationals later tested positive for Covid-19 and sparked Cambodia’s first major outbreak. Phnom Penh is under lockdown until April 28, and NagaWorld, located in the capital city, suspended operations on March 1 after 11 staff members tested positive for the virus.
Sihanoukville also shut down its borders in early March to prevent non-essential travel into or out of the coastal city.
Located on the border with Vietnam, Bavet has long been a popular destination for Vietnamese who have traditionally been unable to play in casinos in their own country due to the Vietnamese ban on casino play by locals.
Amid restrictive measures in the province, travel in case of emergency and provision of essential services are exempted. Cargo and food transport services are allowed with permission from the authorities.
During the ban, all individuals must maintain health measures including wearing mask and maintaining social and physical distancing, having temperature checked and washing hands frequently.
Those caught breaking the measures are subject to legal action as stated in the law on the control of Covid-19 and other deadly contagious diseases.
