Prime Minister Hun Sen said today that he has decided to cancel the Khmer New Year  celebrations scheduled  for next week in a bid to prevent the spread of  COVID-19 into local communities.

Speaking at a press conference, Mr Hun Sen said: “The government decided to cancel the celebrations of the Khmer New Year.”

“The government wants to reduce the travelling of people to prevent the spread of infection from one place to another. This measure is to prevent the people from contracting the virus,” he said.

“The most safe places are at working places,” he said.

He said that the government institutions and private firms, especially garment workers should  continue to work as usual, noting that the cancelled five-day holidays will be offset when the COVID-19 is over.

The Khmer New Year celebration starts on Monday and ends on Thursday.

• Tags: COVID-19 in Cambodia