The Eastern COVID-19 Taskforce started escort services for essential goods and gypsum transporters starting today. A ‘Switching and Holding’ station at Tshelingor, the Trashigang, Pema Gatshel and Samdrup Jongkhar tri-junction, started operations.
Trucks transporting gypsum and essential goods to and from the five eastern dzongkhags will be escorted from Tshelingor to Samdrup Jongkhar and back to Tshelingor on the same day. Transit of goods, driver switching and holdings will all take place at the Tshelingor station with proper disinfection.
According to the taskforce, the transporters should follow strict COVID-19 health protocols. Transporters will be mandated to bring their own food and be in self-containment while in the high-risk areas. Essential goods transporters will be escorted at 7:00 AM from Tshelingor to Samdrup Jongkhar and back at 3:00 PM. Likewise, Gypsum truckers will be escorted twice a day at 4:00 AM and 10 AM and escorted back at 2:00 PM and 8:00 PM every day. According to officials, this measure will minimise the risk of COVID-19 transmission and ease in contact tracing, in case of an outbreak.
Thinley Dorji
