Cambodia reports its first coronavirus death
A woman walks outside the Royal Palace which has being closed for visitors as precaution against the coronavirus outbreak in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, March 19, 2020.
PHOTO: Reuters
PUBLISHED ONMarch 11, 2021 7:03 AM
PHNOM PENH - Cambodia reported its first death from the coronavirus on Thursday (March 4) amid its biggest Covid-19 outbreak so far, after a 50-year-old man succumbed to the virus after testing positive less than two weeks ago.
With just 1,124 coronavirus infections recorded in total, Cambodia has among the fewest cases in Asia, although a sharp rise in infections since Feb. 20 has seen its overall tally more than double.
The man died mid-morning local time on Thursday, the health ministry said in a statement.
It said he tested positive on Feb 27 and was a driver for a Chinese national who lived in the coastal town of Sihanoukville, who was also infected.
The Southeast Asian nation of about 16 million people is located next to Laos, Thailand and Vietnam, which have all been successful in keeping coronavirus outbreaks under control.
Cambodia started its Covid-19 vaccination programme last month.
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