The wait is finally over for the people in Paro. After 35 days of the lockdown following three positive cases of COVID-19 from the community on 22nd December, Paro Dzongkhag will be declared as a Green Zone from 5 am tomorrow. In the last two days, over 6,000 people were tested for COVID-19 and all tested negative.
From tomorrow, offices, institutions and schools in the district will be allowed to reopen along with all shops and business except for entertainment centres. Vehicle movement within and inter districts will also be allowed among other relaxations.
However, businesses have to close by 7 pm and use of face mask is mandatory as per the district task force.
Finance Minister Namgay Tshering who is currently stationed at Paro and working closely with the Dzongkhag Task Force said that with the relaxations people should not be complacent.
“By entering into the Green Zone, it doesn’t mean that we are back to normal. We have to be extra careful now. Although we can say that there is no virus in the community as of now but we cannot rule out 100 per cent that the district or the government is free or safe. We are hearing about the virus with different strength at the international level, which is more risky and deadly. We have to be mindful of health safety practices even more now,” said Lyonpo.
Paro district recorded 64 cases related to the recent outbreak since the lockdown on December 22.
Over 34,000 RT-PCR tests were conducted during the second lockdown. This includes primary contact tracings, community tracings and two round of mass screening in the district.
Meanwhile, the flu clinic, which is located at the Moenlam Chenmo pavilion, will continue to screen people with flu-like symptoms.
Namgay Wangchuk, Paro
