Cambodia’s COVID-19 cases top 100K

By Riyaz ul Khaliq

ANKARA (AA) - Cambodia on Monday witnessed COVID-19 cases surpassing the 100,000 mark, while the deadly infections returned to its neighbor China.

The Southeast Asian nation’s Health Ministry said in a statement that 629 new cases were reported, taking the national tally to 100,133 cases.

It also reported nine more deaths due to the disease, taking the tally to 2,049.

Cambodia reported its first COVID-19 case in late January last year in the Preah Sihanouk province.

The vaccination data released by Cambodia showed it has administered jabs to 97.38% of its targeted 10 million population.

Visiting Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi has also promised to supply another 3 million doses of the vaccines which Prime Minister Hun Sen said will be used to administer as the third dose.

Meanwhile, China reported a resurgence of locally transmitted cases in its eastern Fujian province.

The fresh cases in the country have triggered strict measures, including lockdown and mass testing.

A hospital affiliated with the Xiamen University was closed on Monday after a staff member tested positive for COVID-19, Chinese public broadcaster CGTN reported.

The local authorities in the Siming district of Xiamen city have imposed lockdown and asked people to stay home, while at least 22 new cases were reported on Monday.

The province has also reported a total of 43 infections over the past three days.

The latest resurgence of the deadly infection comes after another eastern province, Jiangsu, witnessed a mass rise in cases last month triggering widespread measures, including deployment of volunteers by the Chinese Communist Party to stem the spread of the disease.