Monthly Archives: December, 0

As soon as the lockdown happens, more people start using the internet for various purposes. The internet becomes the only means of communication. And it puts pressure on the network. With more than 700,000 mobile users, it is no different this time with people complaining about the slow internet speeds.

With the country continuing to see fresh COVID cases from the community every day, the DeSuups are continuing to help the health workers and other officials working tirelessly to contain the spread. The DeSuung office in Thimphu deployed about 1,500 DeSuups to four districts yesterday. The DeSuups will assist the district task forces in the respective areas with their efforts.

From about 3,200 people who registered for in-country postal ballots for Khamdang-Ramjar Constituency, more than 2,700 people have voted so far. Since Trashi Yangtse is a green district, the Bye-election in Khamdang-Ramjar Constituency will be conducted on Thursday next week as announced earlier.

Tsirang district remains under lockdown after two COVID cases were detected from the community on Wednesday. The two cases, a driver at a government office and his daughter-in-law were both detected from Damphu town and have no travel history. The Tsirang COVID-19 Task Force and health officials are still trying to confirm the source of the community outbreak. But sources say the outbreak could have occurred either from a shop in Damphu town or from Rangthangling Gewog where family dinner was held.

Public service delivery in Pema Gatshel is expected to be efficient right from the beginning of their tenure when the local leaders take over their responsibility. This is because the local leaders including the Gups, Mangmis and Tshogpas took part in the first orientation programme held in the district. The four-day programme ended on Wednesday.

Last year at this time, a farmers’ group in Shumar Gewog in Pema Gatshel was busy producing orange pulp. But not this time. The demand has drastically come down. The pulp is the soft juicy part of a fruit or vegetable. It is used to make orange squash and sold in the country. It is supplied to the Bhutan Agro Industries in Thimphu.

A report from the Livestock Department shows the feed has supposedly affected around 600 horses and cattle in seven districts recently. Among them, 17 horses have died in Haa and Paro. The Bhutan Agriculture and Food Regulatory Authority (BAFRA) issued a notification this morning to stop the sale of the suspected batches of the feed.

Almost half of the students of Kuendrup High School in Gelephu operating in containment mode have tested positive for covid. Along with 66 students, the vice-principal, a matron and a cook have been infected. According to the District’s COVID-19 Task Force, the patients are all in stable conditions and have been isolated within the school campus. More than 150 students and a few staff have been living in the school campus after the district went under lockdown on January 16.

The three-day mass testing for the Thimphu thromde started today from the North Mega Zone. More than 3,800 samples were collected today. The results will be out tomorrow. According to a member of the Technical Advisory Group, mass testing is being carried out considering the high risk of transmission in the capital city.

The lockdown and other restrictions have been in place for nearly two weeks now. But new COVID cases continue to emerge from the community in some districts. Since the start of the current lockdown, the country reported more than 1,000 cases.