Lifestyle in Thimphu has changed since the first detection of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) six days back. From sanitizers in every service provider space to empty streets, the city has seen it all.
On the 6th March when the news of the COVID-19 confirmed case hit the nation, Thimphu city especially the otherwise crowded Norzin Lam was eerily silent. Although the streets are back to normalcy, things have changed. Today, people on the streets of Norzin Lam are seen cautiously walking covering their face partially.
“Nowadays, we see fewer people roaming in the town also. Most of them say they are afraid of the disease. But His Majesty and the Prime Minister are visiting the hospital and looking after the case very well. The general public is made aware of preventive measures. But there are also some people who are as usual doing their work, running their shops,” said Tashi Tshering, a Thimphu resident.
“I provide this sanitizer to my passengers so that even if it doesn’t help an infected person, it will help prevent the spread of the virus to an extent,” said Sangda, a taxi driver.
In order to limit the spread and to prevent getting COVID-19, popular places like Memorial Chorten and National Referral Hospital which is often crowded has lesser people these days. Even a few of the business entities have chosen for a temporary shutdown.
“Before, people used to visit the hospital even for a not very serious case, but now with COVID-19 suspects quarantined here, they don’t come to the hospital out of fear. So compared to before, there are no people these days. We stay here from early morning, from 6 am to 7 pm, but we don’t get passengers,” said Sonam Phuntsho Norbu, a Taxi Driver.
He added that people fear them as they handle different passengers. So service provider such as Taxi drivers are seen keeping a bottle of sanitizers in their taxis. Even more so, automated teller machines (ATMs) in the city are equipped with hand sanitizers as well.
People are exposed to the virus while using the keypads on the ATMs since many people use the same machine for transactions. The sanitizers come in handy especially when one has finished using the machine.
While Bhutanese are opting for prevention against COVID-19 for now, they say there is a feeling of uncertainty and fear that it wouldn’t go any time sooner. Yet lives are back to normal and the worries suppressed having trust in the government and faith in His Majesty The King.
Samten Dolkar
