PHNOM PENH, Nov. 9 (Xinhua) -- Cambodian Prime Minister Samdech Techo Hun Sen on Monday night called on people, who came in contact with infected Hungarian Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Peter Szijjarto, to undergo a 14-day self-quarantine at home strictly in order to curb the COVID-19 from spreading into communities.
"Once again, I'd like to appeal to all officials and people involved to quarantine properly, and even your spouses and children must quarantine at home too because they have had direct contact with all of you already," he said in an audio message released to the public.
"Local authorities must watch them closely. If they cannot self-quarantine at home properly, please invite them to quarantine at the quarantine centers arranged by the Ministry of Health ..." Hun Sen said. "We should not be careless and spread the virus to others."
Hun Sen, who has been in a 14-day self-quarantine at home since Nov. 4, also urged the public not to panic, saying that the situation is well controlled.
The Ministry of Health confirmed on Monday that three more people, who came in direct contact with Szijjarto, tested positive for the COVID-19, bringing the total number of infections from Szijjarto to four.
On Saturday, a Cambodian bodyguard, who escorted and protected Szijjarto during his Cambodia visit, also tested positive for the COVID-19.
According to the Ministry of Health, the samples of about 900 people, who came in direct and indirect contacts with Szijjarto, were taken for the second tests at the Pasteur Institute of Cambodia on Monday and the results will be available in the next day.
Szijjarto, who visited Cambodia on Nov. 3, was declared positive with the COVID-19 on Nov. 4 upon his arrival in Thailand on his Asian tour.
Cambodia has so far recorded a total of 300 confirmed COVID-19 cases, with 288 patients cured and 12 hospitalized, the MoH said. Enditem