Most of the COVID-19 positive cases in the country are detected in the returnees from the Middle East, however, the Health Minister said it is epidemiologically very difficult to analyse and reach a conclusion to how they were infected. Lyonpo said the number of case is very small.
Of the 47 cases, 41 COVID-19 cases were those who returned from the Middle East.
According to the Health Minister, returnees who are symptomatic are tested on arrival. But mostly they are being tested on the third or the fifth day with the increasing number of people being quarantined. And some of the infected ones were symptomatic while some were asymptomatic.
Health Minister Dechen Wangmo says the returnees whos tested positive for the virus were all asked about their contacts in the host country. The ministry then relays the information to the Embassy to care for the contacts and observe them. “On questioning, for example, one person stayed in a room where there are 30 people living together. And many of them were sick. It is not sure whether they were infected with coronavirus or not because they were not tested as many countries do not do testing like us,” Lyonpo said.
Meanwhile, the ministry has come up with a second layer of surveillance where some 460 returnees from high-risk areas are being followed up. These are those who have completed their 21-day quarantine. Lyonpo said the team follows up with them for a week through calls asking about their health and whether they are staying at home or not.
And with the COVID-19 pandemic, Lyonpo said it is an opportunity for Bhutanese to change the public health behaviour such as washing hands, sneezing and spitting habits and use of face masks.
“The pandemic will not disappear in a few days time but will last until a vaccine is found. So, the surveillance sites were also increased from 11 hospitals to 50 hospitals in the country. And those who have flu-like symptoms will be tested for the virus,” Lyonpo said. Moreover, all the 20 Dzongkhags have rapid testing kits and the government is also coming up with one more RT-PCR laboratory in Gelegphu in addition to the three laboratories in Thimphu, Phuentshogling and Monggar.
Tshering Zam
