Since the Kamrieng Secondary School located at Kamrieng District, Battambang was converted into a quarantine centre to house migrant workers fleeing across the border to Cambodia, three of the more than 400 workers it had housed had tested positive for COVID-19 while officially, only two had fled.

According to Lt Colonel Ruon Thary, Commander of Kamrieng district military division, the two who fled the centre by scaling the wall of the school were quickly tracked and brought back to the school.

“There were from this area so it was easy to track them and bring them back to the centre, educated on the dangers of fleeing quarantine and put back into the 14 days mandatory quarantine routine,”he said.

He added that at any one time. There were a combined force of up to 30 security personnel om huard, comprising military police, civilian police and army personnel.

He added that thus far, since December 21 when the school was converted into a quarantine centre, three of the occupants have been tested positive and transported to the Battambang provincial hospital for treatment.

.

Kong Sambath, Deputy District governor of Kamrieng meanwhile said that it was a challenge to the district had prior to the influx of the workers, the district did not face any fears over a wide spread pandemic though they were taking the necessary precautions.

“There were concerns that the centre would be over run by migrant workers and positive cases but fortunately it did not happen. We also educated the people by using loud hailers outside the school as well as mobile ones to ensure people were aware of the dangers of the pandemic and the personal hygiene matters.

Outsiders are not permitted to enter the school to visit family members who are quarantined in this school bit are allowed to delivery foodstuff and other essential to the collection centres meters inside the entrance of the school where they are disinfected and delivered to the workers.

“The usual complaints are lack or insufficient and non tasty food but these are handled as and when it arises as there are always minor grouses daily about food. It is catered from outside and we do our best to provide the quarantined people the best we can,” he said.

Occupants however tell a different story as they say that while the quarantine centre was comfortable and clean, they were usually bored and wished to be their family members and home quarantine.

“It’s hard to pass the time here beside the smartphone and time passes so slowly. The food could be better but we understand the situation that we do not have much of a choice,” a migrant worker who declined to be identified said while fiddling with his phone and seated by the park along the school’s road inside the compound.

“I have been in Thailand for four years and had to leave because there was no more job and no more money. If the situation improves in Thailand, I would go back,” he said.

He also said that while he understood why the Cambodian government appealed to people like him to stay put in Thailand, he also alleged that it was easier said than done as life was hard without a job and money.

“We have to travel for hours to get to the border and some of my friends were rounded up by Thai security and fortunately for them, they were sent to another check point to cross back into Cambodia and not arrested.”

Full story on Monday’s edition of Khmer Times