Two more Bhutanese from quarantine facilities in Thimphu tested positive for COVID-19 yesterday. The new cases were detected in a 28-year-old man and a 24-year-old woman who returned from the Middle East yesterday. They have been moved to the isolation ward in Thimphu.
This takes the country’s total COVID-19 cases to 33.
This month saw the most number of positive cases. From seven cases in April, the number soared to 33 in May. Nine new cases were detected this week until Friday.
As of today, six patients have recovered while 16 are in de-isolation after testing negative twice for the virus within 24 hours. There are still 11 active cases in the isolation ward including the one positive case detected in Phuentshogling on Wednesday.
Meanwhile, the Health Ministry has conducted 16,838 tests including 12,033 rapid tests and 4,805 RT PCR. Health Minister Dechen Wangmo says the testing procedure has been changed since two weeks ago. All returnees are tested within five to seven days of their return to ensure early detection.
With no community transmission, Bhutan is still in the Orange Zone. All the cases are imported including the country’s first two cases detected in American tourists and most cases are detected in those returning from the Middle East.
Meanwhile, more than 500 Bhutanese returned home from the Middle East, Nepal and Thailand this week.
Phub Gyem
