The Inevitable and forthcoming Lock-Down

[xandreu]

I fully understand why Cambodia has taken longer than most other countries to decide on how forceful to implement the upcoming lock-down.

Cambodia is unique in that the majority of Khmer citizens live their lives outdoors. They eat, socialise, play sport, play games, they do absolutely everything in the outdoor arena. The majority of Khmers see their homes merely as somewhere to sleep.

To implement some sort of lock-down will be devastating, not only to the economy, but to the health and well-being of the majority of it's citizens.

For example, many Khmer's don't see the need for a kitchen when there are so many road-side eateries which offer freshly cooked food at a fraction of what it would cost them to cook at home.

They don't see the need for spaces to socialise when a tin table and several cheap chairs (and a box of Angkor beers) outside of anywhere that's appropriate will suffice.

They don't see the need for exercise in the home when there's a five-a-side football club that's been running in the local aircraft hanger-type-building for years.

Seriously, implementing some sort of lock-down in Cambodia would be a logistical nightmare, simply because it's not in the Khmer culture to stay at home. Many Khmers simply don't have the resources to stay at home. Who's going to cook their food for a start?

It's easy for us foreigners to look at Cambodia and wonder why it hasn't implemented a lock-down sooner, but remember, this is not our culture. Very few Khmers have a kitchen and can afford to buy their groceries at Supa Dupa to cook their meals at their will....

[John Bingham]

Good points, but in recent days people are not out chatting in the streets like usual, it's very quiet. A lock down wouldn't work but I think a whole lot of people are staying away from others as much as possible.

[GMJS-CEO]

They don’t need a lockdown since almost all of the recent cases are from Chinese that get sick on the airplanes when headed back to China. Cambodia has been lucky to keep the virus contained to such a low figure and people only get sick once out of Cambodian airspace.

[King Keil]

Most of the khmer people that I know have a kitchen and love cooking at home. All the other points are valid and not socializing outside will be a major challenge.

[hanno]

Vietnamese do everything outdoors but a full on lock-down is in effect. Where I live since 2 days, nationwide since last night. The government tried a less stringent approach first but now it is a no holds barred approach.

[phuketrichard]

I fully understand why Cambodia has taken longer than most other countries to decide on how forceful to implement the upcoming lock-down.

Cambodia is unique in that the majority of Khmer citizens live their lives outdoors. They eat, socialise, play sport, play games, they do absolutely everything in the outdoor arena. The majority of Khmers see their homes merely as somewhere to sleep.

To implement some sort of lock-down will be devastating, not only to the economy, but to the health and well-being of the majority of it's citizens.

For example, many Khmer's don't see the need for a kitchen when there are so many road-side eateries which offer freshly cooked food at a fraction of what it would cost them to cook at home.

They don't see the need for spaces to socialise when a tin table and several cheap chairs (and a box of Angkor beers) outside of anywhere that's appropriate will suffice.

They don't see the need for exercise in the home when there's a five-a-side football club that's been running in the local aircraft hanger-type-building for years.

Seriously, implementing some sort of lock-down in Cambodia would be a logistical nightmare, simply because it's not in the Khmer culture to stay at home. Many Khmers simply don't have the resources to stay at home. Who's going to cook their food for a start?

It's easy for us foreigners to look at Cambodia and wonder why it hasn't implemented a lock-down sooner, but remember, this is not our culture. Very few Khmers have a kitchen and can afford to buy their groceries at Supa Dupa to cook their meals at their will....

some of ur points are good but this is WAY OFF

For example, many Khmer's don't see the need for a kitchen when there are so many road-side eateries which offer freshly cooked food at a fraction of what it would cost them to cook at home

Looks like you have only been to the cities, try going thru a small town or village and finding somewhere to have a meal or even a bowl of soup!! Very few khmers eat out for the simple reason they can't afford it. You will find places the men can gather for a chat and drink but it will be lao cow, not beer, (unless their in one of the local karaokes where they drink draft beer ) as once again, they cant afford anything else.

The majority of khmers live in the countryside

A lock down is coming, its foolish to think that with the numbers of Chinese that travel to the country and the number of khmers they come in contact with, the numbers of those infected wont increase.
When that happens, god help ya, cause the country is not equipped to handle it
Even ur king has chosen to leave

King Departs for China Amid Coronavirus Pandemic and the Potential State of Emergency

https://www.voacambodia.com/a/king-depa ... fJkE5PpLlg

going for a health check up cause he cant get one in his own country....

“Now foreigners in China have to be isolated for 15 days, so maybe [China] would make that plan for the [King] too, so his medical checkup will not be immediate,” Prince Thomico said. “So maybe it will take at least three to four weeks.”

or more........

PS; Vietnamese & Thais live mostly out door....both are in semi lockdown with curfews and closures in place

[samrong01]

I hope the government will take note that countries that do NOT have lockdown have been most successful in controlling the virus - i.e. Singapore and Korea. In Singapore in particular, life continues fairly normally with schools open and people going to work. The government has recommended sensible precautions that the people are taking - no close contact, wear masks only when sick, wash hands regularly. In addition and importantly they have an effective "Track and trace" system.

By contrast countries with draconian lockdowns such as Italy and Spain have seen large increases in cases. This is hardly surprising since when you confine people to crowded apartment blocks the spread of the disease is inevitable. Similarly when you confine your elderly to old folks homes the disease will easily spread to all of them and many will die. When people are outdoors they are far less likely to catch the virus.

[Kammekor]

Intelligent measures require a high level of organization and skills on all levels. Cambodia lacks both.

[siliconlife]

Culture? A lock-down is a political decision, it has nothing to do with culture, let alone the specifics of that culture - all lock-downs are logistical nightmares. At the end of the day, the approach that saves the most lives is the right one, culture be damned. Exactly what that approach is... Well, I think the world has gone nuts enough for that to conveniently remain a mystery at least until all this is over, probably in full only 50 years after.

Anyway, do you really think the people in charge of making lock-down decisions are fretting about the lives of those who live in cramped rooms, and that there aren't much more strategic reasons leaders (especially those of the authoritarian persuasion) prefer to consider?

Also not having a kitchen at home is not culture, that's economics - living standards. Here's some Khmer culture: I've seen Cambodians cook in rooms so small that you'd think they wouldn't have been able to fit the stove in there with them. And: Traditional Khmer houses have spacious kitchens below them.

[Anchor Moy]

^ Yep. IMO the logistics of a lockdown are too complicated and there can not be a longterm sustained lockdown here in Cambodia like there is in the west because we would all starve, but it may be a joker for HE in case things get really bad, really fast. The last resort ?

Latest speeches by HE on the topic have insisted that the factories must stay open, however, Khmer NY is coming up so they may close for longer than usual. KNY will be interesting. I wonder if the authorities will put a travel ban in place. There is talk of restricting movement between the provinces, so we'll see. This seems more likely and easier to implement than a lockdown (IMO of course, just speculating.)