Country next to Vietnam reports 12 new cases of coronavirus, bringing total to 24

Cambodia reported 12 new cases of coronavirus on Tuesday, doubling its tally to 24.

Of the new cases, 11 were people who had traveled to Malaysia for a religious event at a mosque, a statement from the Ministry of Health said.

According a report by Prak Chan Thull on Reuters, two others who had traveled to the same ceremony had tested positive for the virus in Cambodia over the weekend.

Coronavirus threat from the “war games” with China

Cambodia kicked-off its annual joint military exercise with China on Saturday, with thousands of soldiers joining despite events being cancelled around the world amid the coronavirus pandemic. The Aljazeera reports.

This year’s Golden Dragon annual exercise took place at a military training site in the southern Kampot province and focused on “counterterrorism and humanitarianism”.

Earlier this month, ruling Cambodian People’s Party spokesman Sok Eysan was quoted by Radio Free Asia as saying that there had been no case in Cambodia yet, therefore “there was no risk in holding the exercise”.

In February, a Chinese traveller was diagnosed with the novel coronavirus and put under quarantine in coastal town Sihanoukville.

“Now that it appears to have gained a hold on the virus within China, the Chinese government wants to send a message of business as usual. The Cambodian government can demonstrate its support to a powerful patron. Both can consolidate a relationship that they view as serving their mutual interests,” Strangio said.

@ Reuter/ Aljazeera