COVID-19 Response in Cambodia with Sovathiro Mao

The declaration of COVID-19 as a pandemic by the World Health Organisation (WHO) led many countries to take strict measures to curb the spread of the virus. However, the extent of COVID-19’s impact varied across different countries and regions. Cambodia, a low and middle-income country with a population of 16 million, was considered ill-prepared for health emergencies. In 2017, Cambodia scored an average of 1 out of 5 for emergency response operations and emergency preparedness based on International Health Regulations criteria. Despite this, the first death related to COVID-19 was not observed until more than one year after the WHO announced the pandemic. By March 2023, Cambodia reported 841 cases per 100,000 people and 19 deaths per 100,000 people – figures much lower than many neighboring countries. There are a variety of factors that influenced how the pandemic played out in Cambodia. This seminar will explore and discuss important factors such as public health measures, international partnerships, governance, and sociocultural factors to understand how Cambodia navigated this crisis despite its limited resources.