In an effort to identify new Coronavirus (COVID-19) cases if any, the Health Ministry established a new walk-in flu clinic for people suffering from cough and respiratory illness next to the helipad inside Royal Bhutan Police campus in Thimphu.
The facility, which is open since Saturday, will enable health professionals in mass monitoring and identifying of COVID-19 cases.
With the country reporting of one confirmed case of the disease, people have been visiting the flu clinic to get themselves tested. As of yesterday, 560 people visited the clinic.
To maintain hygiene, the flow at the health facility starts with washing of hands followed by sanitization and then check-up. The clinic will remain open round the clock.
Officials, however, urge people not to rush to the clinic if there are no symptoms of respiratory illness.
“This is mainly for cough. People having a headache, having blood pressure, diabetes, just having fever, trauma, they should not be coming here. They should go to the usual place that is in the main hospital. Maybe they do not know but they would be risking themselves if they come. For example, if a diabetic patient comes here, there is a high risk that he might catch some contagious disease like tuberculosis from someone who is infected and came here for a check-up,” said Dr Dhrupthob Sonam, the HoD of general OPD at the JDWNRH.
So far, no suspected COVID-19 case has been recorded at the clinic.
A similar flu clinic has also been set up at the Lungtenphu Army Hospital in Thimphu.
Meanwhile, the government has identified nine health screening facilities, eight designated isolation places and over 40 quarantine places across the country.
Samten Dolkar
