Cambodia has begun setting up thousands of hospital beds in two wedding party halls to cope with an influx of Covid-19 patients in a country that up until recently had largely managed to contain infections, Reuters reports.

Cambodia has also reported a daily record of 618 new coronavirus cases, its health ministry said, in a spike in infections following an outbreak first detected in late February. The new numbers took the overall tally to 6,389.

"The ministry of health has decided to use the Premiere Centre Sen Sok to prepare for the Covid-19 treatment centre which can accommodate more than 1,500 Covid-19 patients," said Cambodia national television TVK, citing a health official.