| English | Dzongkha | Saturday, October 31, 2020 |
With no vaccine or treatment globally, COVID-19 is here to stay for a long time. And to remind the general public of their responsibilities in mitigating the risk, His Holiness the Je Khenpo launched “Our Gyenkhu” initiative today at the Tashichhodzong in presence of the Health Minister, and senior officials from the ministry.
The Phuentshogling Dungkhag Court, yesterday, sentenced a 47-year-old man from Pangnatoed (Pana A) under Samphelling Gewog in Chhukha to four years, 11 months and 29 days in prison for breaching the COVID-19 protocol along the border.
Following the recent slight decline in COVID-19 cases in the South-East Asia Region, the World Health Organisation (WHO) urges the need to continue extreme caution. The WHO says combating the virus needs to be strengthened and there should be no complacency in view of the declining number.
The Health Minister called on public transports and shops to step up efforts to increase usage of the Druk Trace contact tracing app. The Health Ministry’s analysis of the app’s data found that very few taxis and public buses have registered on the app so far.
An increasing number of people are getting infected with Coronavirus but the recovery rate is also rising across the globe. Similarly, in Bhutan, the recovery rate stands at 84 per cent without a single fatality. But there still is a fear among the public for reinfection.
The first phase of the seasonal influenza vaccination started today across the country. Six high-risk groups will be receiving the vaccination in this phase. While the remaining population will be vaccinated in November in the second phase.
Farmers of Maenchhu and Gashari under Norboogang Gewog in Nganglam Dungkhag are confused with the quarantine protocol in the dungkhag. Most of them own lands in Tenzinwama and Satsaloo villages which are identified as high-risk zones. And as per protocol, they have to be in a facility quarantine for a week while returning from their work.
Amid the difficulties in importing foreign workers, building construction owners in Dewathang under Samdrup Jongkhar are now employing local skilled workers. The pandemic, in a sense, has opened doors to the Bhutanese workers to make a good living.
With more than six million COVID-19 cases in India, the country is expecting to scale up coronavirus testing with its newly developed paper-based test. Named as Feluda, the paper-based test for COVID-19 is cheaper and could give faster results. It is also claimed to be more accurate than the antigen test.
Foreign workers started coming into the country since the beginning of this month. But for small and medium level contractors, bringing in the workers is still a challenge. As per the standard operating procedure, the employers have to bear the expenses of COVID-19 tests, treatment and mandatory quarantine.
Until yesterday, over 40 foreign workers entered Phuentshogling. They […]