According to the Health Minister, the three Bhutanese who tested positive for coronavirus recently are recovering. Upon testing negative for the virus twice within 24 hours, the country’s fourth COVID-19 case, have been moved to a hotel for de-isolation.
Meanwhile, the two other cases have also tested negative yesterday and they will be tested once again within 24 hours and if tested negative, will be moved to a hotel for de-isolation. These are the country’s only and imported cases so far.
“We tested the case number three and the case number five yesterday, they both tested negative for the virus. It’s very significant that they are recovering. We will test again today. So within 24 hours, if they test negative twice then it shows they do not have the virus anymore. So we will isolate them for two weeks. And if they don’t show any symptoms within that period then they will be considered as recovered cases,” said Dechen Wangmo, the Health Minister.
Meanwhile, there are 3292 people in quarantine centres in Paro, Thimphu and Phuentshogling and 193 home quarantined. A total of 5097 people have been tested so far.
The Health Minister informed that currently Bhutan is in the orange zone and the government is focused towards working on protecting the vulnerable group for if the country enters the red zone. The Minister said the government is listing people aged 60 and above, people living with disabilities and people with underlying health conditions who are among the vulnerable group. More than 51,000 elderly have registered in the past week.
Lyonpo said if the country enters into the red zone the vulnerable group will be the most affected. “There will be no movement and these group of people won’t be able to visit hospitals. So their medical supplies and medical check up will be the ministry’s responsibility. So we have planned activities considering all these aspects,” Lyonpo said.
To protect people with underlying medical conditions, the government is also working on bringing in Bhutanese patients from Kolkota and Vellore where they have been referred for treatment.
“We have identified locations for their stay as they return to the country. And we have also identified doctors to look after them. And today we have around 23 people coming in of which seven are patients and six among them are in stable condition who can stay in hotels and one will be sent to Gida hospital and we have identified doctors to look after that one patient. Similarly, we will also bring in patients from Kolkota in the second batch,” Lyonpo added.
The Minister also shared that the government met the CSOs to get a list of people living with disabilities in the country and have worked out ways to protect the vulnerable group if the country enters the red zone and has to lockdown.
Phub Gyem
