Cambodia on December 5 removed its ban on travellers from 10 African countries after a nearly one-week suspension due to the Omicron variant of COVID-19, according to Health Minister Mam Bunheng.

Market guards inspect a shopper's COVID-19 vaccination card at an entrance in Phnom Penh, Cambodia in October 2021. (Photo: Xinhua/VNA)

With the approval from Cambodian Prime Minister Samdech Techo Hun Sen, the Ministry of Health (MoH) decided to lift the ban on travelers from Botswana, Eswatini, Lesotho, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Zimbabwe, Malawi, Angola and Zambia, he said, adding that the ban removal took effect immediately.

But the travelers from the 10 countries and those who have a history of traveling to the 10 countries in the last two weeks must undergo a rapid test for COVID-19 upon their arrival in Cambodia, he said.

"If the result is negative, they must go into a seven-day quarantine and then take a PCR test on the sixth day of the quarantine," the minister said.

Fully vaccinated travelers must show a medical certificate certifying that they have tested negative for COVID-19 within 72 hours prior to their arrival in Cambodia, he said, adding that unvaccinated passengers will be required to undergo a full 14-day quarantine.

The reversal came after UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said on November 29 that he was deeply concerned about the isolation of southern African countries due to the Omicron variant travel restrictions.

Source: VNA