PHNOM PENH, Jan. 21 (Xinhua) -- Cambodia's Prime Minister Samdech Techo Hun Sen on Friday said the government allowed all patients infected with the Omicron variant of COVID-19 in the country to get treatment at home if they want.
"Now, Omicron patients are no longer required to undergo treatment at the COVID-19 designated hospitals because we have found that Omicron, even though it spreads fast, but it has lower severity than Delta and Alpha variants," he said in an audio message released publicly.
Hun Sen said all foreigners, if testing positive for the Omicron variant, can undergo treatment wherever they want such as at embassies, hospitals, or hotels.
Locals can receive at-home treatment but must strictly follow regulations and treatment procedures set out by the Ministry of Health.
Meanwhile, the prime minister said all Omicron patients, who are currently being treated in the COVID-19 designated hospitals, can immediately leave for treatment at home, hotels or wherever they prefer.
He said that from now on, all COVID-19 patients with the Delta, Alpha or Omicron variant can undergo treatment at home.
Since the pandemic hit the Southeast Asian country in January 2020, Cambodia has registered a total of 120,956 cases, with 3,015 deaths and 117,180 recoveries, according to the health ministry.
So far, the kingdom has administered at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine to 14.32 million people, or 89.5 percent of its 16 million population, the ministry said, adding that 13.72 million people, or 85.8 percent, are fully vaccinated with receiving two required shots.
Most of the vaccines used in the country's inoculation program are China's Sinovac and Sinopharm vaccines. ■