The Covid-19 situation in Cambodia, and especially in Phnom Penh, changes by the hour. More areas of the city have been designated as Red Zones with very strict control of movements.
Recent Developments
After more than two weeks of lockdown, infection numbers and new cases are still at their highest levels.
The army was mobilized today to vaccinate everyone in the Red Zones and then everyone in Phnom Penh.
Large numbers of hungry people have protested on the streets about lack of food. The government says the protests are political.
The period from May 6 to June 18 was announced as the time when all those who are receiving the AstraZeneca vaccine will receive their second dose.
“Racism is a sin; a sin that divides the human family, blots out the image of God among specific members of that family, and violates the fundamental human dignity of those called to be children of the same Father.”
U.S. Catholic Bishops
“My friends, we cannot tolerate or turn a blind eye to racism and exclusion in any form and yet claim to defend the sacredness of every human life.”
Cambodia has not had a new case of coronavirus in more than a month, and only one of the 122 positive infections is still receiving treatment. There have been no COVID-19 deaths in the kingdom. The government has closed schools (March 16th) and churches and casinos and spas, but otherwise life is almost like normal. People are on the streets. The markets and shops are open. Fewer people wear a mask.
Then today the Minister of Education announced that the plan is to reopen the schools the 1st of November, a decision that surprised many because the attempt at some sort of online education has not gone well.
Today I was at the PIME house in Phnom Penh for a simple reflection. PIME is the Italian equivalent of the Maryknoll mission group based in the United States. Here Fr. Gianluca welcomes me on my first visit to their new center.
