Life in the 18 districts identified as green zones by the National COVID-19 Taskforce is almost back to how it was pre-lockdown days. However, most districts have decided not to go liberal with the relaxations. This means, no pilgrimage or hot spring baths. Sports like football and archery, which attracts a high number of players, have been put on hold as well. District taskforces were given the authority to decide on the relaxation of activities.
The second phase of relaxations comes almost a month after the nationwide lockdown was first imposed. This means people can now travel to other districts.
Schools, institutions, and offices will be open at full capacity, and all businesses except for entertainment centres can operate.
Construction works will also resume. And new measures like monitoring of students’ health and carrying out random COVID-19 tests in schools every two weeks have also been introduced.
In Samtse, taxis and public transport buses have been instructed to have a mandatory transparent partition between the driver and passengers.
While in Phuentshogling, though residents are happy with the relaxations, football enthusiasts feel that football should also be allowed like other non-contact sports.
“We couldn’t play football much last year due to the first lockdown. After that, we played for some two weeks. And then, there was the second lockdown. If we are allowed to play, it is good exercise and helps us keep fit. While playing in the ground, we are made to follow strict protocol so I don’t see any problem. I will be grateful if we are allowed to play,” said Sangay Lethro, a football enthusiast.
In the east, taxi drivers in Nganglam in Pema Gatshel are delighted to be back on roads. Kezang Jamtsho, a taxi driver said, “most taxi drivers are happy today. We are hoping that our business will return to how it was before the lockdown.”
Further, the relaxations will also enable colleges under the Royal University of Bhutan (RUB) to complete the end-term examinations.
“We had to postpone our examination by almost 20 days. Now we are planning to conduct the semester-end examination from 18th January. We may not be in a position to allow the students to go on vacation. If we send the students for vacation, those going to reds zones will have to undergo seven days quarantine. So, that will put more pressure on the government,” said Tshering Wangdi, the President of Sherubtse College.
Meanwhile, the NC19TF has cleared the zones earlier identified as yellow zones after intensive contact tracings, isolation of the cases from the community, additional tests to rule out any positive cases.
People of the three gewogs under Lhamoi Dzingkha Dungkhag in Dagana have to undergo a week-long mandatory facility quarantine and antigen test if they wish to travel to low-risk zones. The Dungkhag was identified as a yellow zone following the detection of five people with the coronavirus.
However, all business entities and construction works in the Dungkhag are allowed in self-contained mode.
Sherub Dorji
