PHNOM PENH, 25 May 2020: Cambodia has relaxed travel restrictions on foreign visitors as the country reports that its public health measures so far have successfully contained the spread of Covid-19.
According to the official statement issued by the State Secretariat of Civil Aviation of Cambodia, new measures came into effect 20 May.
The statement confirms that Cambodia has lifted the ban on foreign nationals from Iran, Italy, Germany, Spain, France and the US.
But measures continue to apply for travellers arriving in the country, including the requirement for on-site PCR swab test.
Both Cambodian and foreign nationals must present a medical certificate indicating their Covid-19 negative status, issued by competent health authorities of their residing country no more than 72 hours prior to the date of travel.
Foreign nationals must provide proof of an insurance policy with a minimum medical coverage of not less than USD50,000 valid for the intended duration of stay in Cambodia.
On arrival at the airport, all travellers will be PCR swab tested for Covid-19 and be asked to wait for at the airport for the laboratory results.
If travellers test Covid-19 positive, they will be quarantined along with accompanying negative-tested passengers at a location designated by the authorities. If they have tested positive at the airport and show other classic symptoms of Covid-19 they will be hospitalised immediately.
In the event that all travellers on a flight test negative, they will be allowed to self isolate for 14 days at their respective homes or registered hotels under the supervision of the local authorities and health officials.
Air operators must not transport a passenger who has as a confirmed positive test of Covid-19. The airlines are responsible for the passenger’s repatriation as well as the cost of quarantined or treatment. Different rules apply to the airline crew.
Wait, do you mean they will quarantine all the passengers on the plane if one tests positive? What if the test is a false positive as many are? Insanity.
Why would somebody travel to Cambodia only to be locked in a hotel for two weeks?
Where are people going to get $USD50,000 medical insurance from, that covers covid-19 ? Travel insurance companies are and have been specific in their exclusion of any claims related to pandemics.
This makes all the other considerations (e.g. a recent covid-19 negative test etc) irrelevant, and makes travel effectively impossible, in my opinion.