Despite the Prime Minister and the Governments appeal to Cambodian workers in Thailand to stay put where they are, their continued exodus back to  Cambodia is putting provincial hospital under stress with mounting cases.

Today, the  Ministry of Health announced that another seven workers were tested for the deadly virus, bringing this cluster infection to 77 spread across two provinces, Banteay Meanchey and Takeo.

Those infected are a  29-year-old male, a 28-year-old woman,, both from  Banteay Neang village, Banteay Neang commune, Mongkul Borei district, Banteay Meanchey province and who returned to  Cambodia on 6 January, 2021

They both tested positive after 13 days quarantine, and are currently being treated at Banteay Meanchey Provincial Referral Hospital.

The others are a 38-year-old woman, a 30-year-old man, both from  Pen Meas Village, Samrong Commune, Tram Kak District, Takeo Province, a 31-year-old  man, a 23-year-old man and a 26-year-old woman, all of whom are from Banteay Mean Rith village, Kouk Romiet commune, Thmor Puok district, Banteay Meanchey province, and had returned to Cambodia on 17, January, 2021.

They are also being treated at Banteay Meanchey Provincial Referral Hospital.

The total 448 confirmed cases include 322 Cambodians, 45 French, 18 Chinese, 13 Malaysians, 13 Indonesians, 12 Americans, 6 British, 3 Vietnamese, 3 Canadians, 3 Indians, 2 Hungarians, 2 Pakistanis, 2 Japanese, 1 Belgian, 1 Kazakhstani, 1 Polish, and 1 Jordanian.

Of these, 77 are Cambodian migrant workers who fled a surge in COVID-19 cases and deaths in Thailand.

• Tags: COVID-19 in Cambodia