Samtse Gewog and Samtse Throm are under a 72-hour blackout period starting today. This was after a woman tested positive for COVID-19 during the routine surveillance today.
People rushed to their respective homes as soon as the blackout period was announced. Except for few people stuck without any vehicle to move out of the gewog, the district did not face any major problems executing the blackout period. The issue was later solved with the help of police and taxi drivers.
According to the District COVID-19 Task Force, the positive patient is a Bhutanese woman working at one of the quarantine facilities. She had breached quarantine protocols and moved out of the facility. Currently, all her contacts are being traced.
The Samtse Dzongkhag Administration issued a public notification announcing all schools, offices, and institutions in Samtse Gewog and Throm to remain closed. Likewise, the movement of people and vehicles within the gewog and throm area is completely restricted for the next three days.
Meanwhile, phase two relaxation of lockdown restrictions began in Phuentshogpelri Gewog or Gomtu from today.
Dr. Tshokey, a member of the National COVID-19 Technical Advisory Group, who is in Gomtu monitoring the COVID situation said the Gomtu town area is now a yellow zone. It was previously classified as red zone.
Likewise, Pugli or Nyoenpaling area is also turned a green zone from yellow starting today.
“We conducted a mass screening in Pugli and the red zone area, Gomtu town and nearby area for further relaxations of lockdown on July 1st and 2nd. We collected about 2,591 samples of which 8 individuals tested positive for the virus. Positive cases are emerging but the cases are from the two cluster areas of Shanti Colony and Litchibari. Since it is from cluster areas it is easier for us to monitor.”
He added the places from where the positive cases emerged will now be converted into a red cluster area.
“If there are cases from buildings and small houses, we will turn them into red buildings and red houses accordingly. There will be a team to monitor them. Similarly, police and Desuups will also monitor the area, every day.”
Among other relaxations, factories and industries have also been allowed to open under strict self-containment mode. Likewise, institutes providing essential services such as banks have also been allowed to provide services with strict COVID protocols in the second phase of relaxations. However, the movement of people and vehicles outside the gewog is not allowed for now.
The current relaxation in Phuentshogpelri will continue for a week. Task force will then carry out another strategic mass testing which will decide the complete unlocking of the gewog. Phuentshogpelri reported 210 positive cases of COVID-19 from the community since June 6.
Passang Dorji, Samtse
