Authorities in some provinces have restricted entry at their borders by setting up checkpoints and requiring travellers suspected of any exposure to persons or places linked to the February 20 community outbreak of Covid-19 to quarantine for 14 days.

The imposition of these restrictive measures follows government directives requiring that each province be prepared to protect itself by tightening security to prevent community transmission.

Tbong Khmum Provincial Hall’s administration chief Mao Dong told The Post on March 14 that people living in the capital and provinces at high risk for Covid-19 need to be quarantined for 14 days before being allowed to enter.

He added that such restrictions were due to the fact that the province currently has no known Covid-19 transmission within the community, which is why the provincial administration must take strict measures to prevent the disease from spreading there.

“We require 14 days quarantine for people who are coming from suspected high-risk areas in one of our designated quarantine locations, where we will also provide food for them. For people coming from areas of low risk, we allow them to enter as normal by just checking their health,” he said.

Dong said although Tbong Khmum has no Covid-19 cases linked to the February 20 community outbreak, there are currently approximately 500 people in quarantine centres there as of March 14. The 500 are people travelling from other provinces and those crossing the border into Cambodia from Vietnam.

Similarly, Siem Reap provincial governor Tea Seiha has also instructed the armed forces and health department’s working group to set up checkpoints at the six main gateways to the province to ensure that people suspected of being infected with Covid-19 are not allowed to enter in order to prevent transmission.

The six main gateways include National Road 6 between Kampong Thom province’s Stoung district and Siem Reap’s Chi Kraeng districts; Siem Reap’s Kralanh district and Banteay Meanchey province’s Preah Netr Preah district; National Road 68 between Oddar Meanchey province’s Chongkal district and Siem Reap’s Srei Snam district; National Road 66 between Oddar Meanchey’s Anlong Veng district and Siem Reap’s Varin district; and National Road 64 between Preah Vihear province’s Kulen district and Siem Reap’s Svay Leu district.http://https://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/provinces-tighten-travel-restrictions