INTRODUCTION

Since early 2020, COVID-19 has threatened our health, social life, and economy globally. The troublesome asymptomatic characteristics of the virus led governments to close schools, restaurants, movie theaters, and other public amenities as safety measures. This, unfortunately, resulted in a slowdown in the economy and a fall in the standard of living. The informal workers, employed on a seasonal, casual, or temporary basis, and lack social protection, suffered badly (Dash & Dash, 2021). However, amidst these challenges, businesses and students have shown remarkable adaptability. Students were forced to adapt to online classes, and businesses had to shift to online sales and delivery. Despite their best efforts, many businesses were forced to close, and students struggled with the transition. 

Although the Royal Government of Cambodia (RGC) distributed vaccines to more than half of the population, the emergence of the COVID-19 Delta variant in a later phase means that the government still needs to close down schools and businesses (Strangio, 2021). As the education system remains vulnerable, many students faced challenges accessing adequate learning, examinations were postponed, and the quality of education was at risk. While some businesses managed to conduct their activities virtually, others faced bankruptcy and liquidation, and most importantly, the small family businesses whose operations were suspended due to the government’s restrictive measures had no choice except to look for new opportunities. Therefore, knowing the effectiveness and sustainability of the government’s measures and policies to combat the COVID-19 pandemic is imperative.

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