With the activation of the zoning system, residents of Monggar town started coming out of their homes to buy essentials. Not even a single person coming out in the last four days due to complete lockdown, the town looked like a ghost town.
Owing to an increasing number of cases in other dzongkhags and contacts tracing of those returning from high-risk areas, the activation of the zoning system took a while. But the town is back to life, again. It is divided into four zones, and people are allowed to come out in their designated areas and time-block.
According to some residents and shopkeepers, they don’t have much problem this time as they have already stock-up essentials. ”I have already stocked-up enough supply of essentials before the lockdown. So, this lockdown won’t be as tough as the first one,’’ said Sonam Phunthso, a businessman in the town.
But for some, not having enough vegetable supply was a problem. Tshewang Rinzin said, ”with no single shop opening in the last few days, it was tough.”
However, coming together in solidarity, the town is now well-prepared in case there is a community outbreak or any transmission. The dzongkhag COVID-19 Taskforce has also asked the Food Corporation of Bhutan, FCB, to supply essential items to the gewogs.
Likewise, taskforce members are also facilitating the collection of farm and dairy products from farmers across the villages. However, the inter-dzongkhag movement is restricted, except for some emergency cases.
Meanwhile, the front-line workers like police and deSuups are undergoing mass screening in the flu clinics. Shopkeepers have also been asked to get tested.
Sonam Tshering
