Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen, initially criticized for his cavalier attitude toward COVID-19, has cancelled next week’s Khmer New Year celebrations amid fears people returning to their home villages from the cities will spread the new coronavirus further.
“The government decided to cancel the celebrations of the Khmer New Year,” he said, telling a press conference that “the government wants to reduce the traveling of people to prevent the spread of infection from one place to another.”
“This measure is to prevent the people from contracting the virus,” he added. “The most safe places are at working places.”
