The views of this article are the perspective of the author and may not be reflective of Confessions of the Professions.
On March 6, 2020, the news on first affirmed Coronavirus case in Bhutan shocked the entire country, I was still in my bed, from the start couldn’t accept my ears. In any case, later in the press conference the Prime Minister reported that the patient was a 76-year-old visitor from the United States of America. He had entered the nation from Paro International Airport, after embarking flight from Guwahati, India.
Following to the National Preparedness and Response Plan, and the operating procedures in place, all subsequent activities were started right away. His Majesty the King personally oversaw implementation of the response strategy, as groups worked from Ministry of Health all as the night progressed.
At the Paro International Airport, the patient’s wellbeing statement structure was surveyed. He had specified “negative” against all conditions. He didn’t have an indication of fever. However, upon reaching Thimphu, he visited the medical OPD at Thimphu hospital, complaining of bloaty abdomen and nausea.
The following day, he headed out to Punakha, with two stops in transit for tea and lunch. He had remained at Densa Boutique Resort. That night, he had strolled until the bridge close to Punakha Dzong, and came back to the room.
After returning back to Thimphu, he visited Thimphu Hospital once more. He was found to have fever, sore throat, cough and shortness of breath. He was kept under observation at the flu clinic and samples were collected and sent to Royal Centre for Disease Control. Upon confirmation, he has been isolated in the COVID-19 hospital. Considering his age and underlying conditions, the patient is on oxygen support.
The Health Ministry launched contact tracings according to the patient’s schedule. It included individuals he connected with at all the points and stops along the way, beginning from Paro air terminal to Thimphu, to Punakha and back. It included tea stops, and lunch at Punakha High School park.
The nearby contacts were his partner, the driver and the guide. While every one of the three are asymptomatic, they have been isolated at the assigned COVID-19 hospital.
Health ministry has asked the four crew members of the particular flight, and the hotel staff at both Le Meridien and Densa Boutique Resort to “home quarantine”. Which means they should stay home and maintain distance from people, including family members.
Adjusting with the reaction plan, the government announces closure of schools and institutes in Thimphu, Paro and Punakha for two weeks with effect from March 6. Later the closure of schools and institutes was extended to whole Bhutan.
The administration forced fourteen days restriction on all incoming tourists with immediate effect to enable rigorous monitoring, source assessment of infection and mitigate the situation.
People are advised to maintain good personal hygiene, avoid gatherings, comply with quarantine and all shop must remain closed by 7pm.
The Government is strictly monitoring all steps to prevent community transmission of the COVID-19 and as on June14 Bhutan has total confirmed cases of 66 all imported cases.
