PHNOM PENH, March 22 (Xinhua) -- Cambodia confirmed 73 new COVID-19 cases on Monday, bringing the total number of infections in the kingdom to 1,753, the Ministry of Health (MoH) said in a statement.
The new infections included 71 local cases - 32 in Preah Sihanouk province, 28 in capital Phnom Penh, five in Kampong Thom province, three in Kandal province, and one each in Siem Reap, Prey Veng and Kep provinces - and two imported cases, the statement said.
The imported cases were detected on two Indonesian women, in their 20s, who traveled to the country on Saturday from Indonesia via a connecting flight in Singapore, it added.
MoH's secretary of state and spokeswoman Or Vandine said on Sunday that staying at home was the best choice for now during this time of active virus transmission in order to stop the spread of the disease.
"Phnom Penh dwellers should stop unnecessary travel to provinces and vice versa," she said.
The Southeast Asian nation has been enduring the third community COVID-19 outbreak since Feb. 20, with at least 1,233 people infected so far.
In a bid to stem the virus, the kingdom has closed down all schools, sports facilities, museums, cinemas, and entertainment venues nationwide.
Since the start of the pandemic in January last year, Cambodia has reported a total of 1,753 confirmed COVID-19 cases, with four deaths and 967 recoveries, the MoH said. Enditem