It’s a New Surge in Phnom Penh, but Workers Still Cheer for Less Bubbles
Yesterday’s count hit a record 841 new COVID‑19 cases in Cambodia. Prime Minster Hun Sen’s move to lift the blanket lockdown is welcomed – except for the areas that are still on “red‑zone” status.
What the Numbers Say
- April 15: A hard lockdown began for Phnom Penh and the surrounding town of Takhmau.
- From late February (≈500 cases) to now (≈15,361) – that’s an almost three‑fold jump.
- The nation’s total deaths is 106 – still one of the world’s smallest caseloads.
While Phnom Penh calms, the entire country continues to dip but not dive.
What the Leaders Are Saying
Hun Sen posted on Facebook: “We’re ending the lockdown as of May 6, 2021, and switching to new measures designed to keep the virus at bay.”
But the “red‑zone” policy kept residents glued to their homes. People and human‑rights groups slammed the lockdown for not offering enough aid.
WHO — the Guardian in the Shadows
WHO rep in Cambodia, Li Ailan, warned to move slowly. “If we let COVID‑19 rules loosen too early, we might see a spike again,” she said on Twitter. Here’s the tweet link: Check it out!
So, essentially, the nation is reading its own score: high try‑outs today, but the move is not a full‑scale march back to normal. The rest of the world watches what happens in Phnom Penh, hoping the next episode isn’t another record‑breaking guest appearance.
