Phuentshogling has been under lockdown for almost four months now. The town continues to see positive cases of COVID-19 from the community even to date despite restrictions. Phuentshogling reported 183 positive cases of COVID-19 since April. Unable to bear the prolonged lockdown, the residents started to relocate to other districts.
Kinley Wangmo closed her shop and moved to Thimphu temporarily with her family around two months ago.
“I come in close contact with a lot of people in the shop. That was risky as I have a child with a disability and grandmother in the house. Moreover, the business was not going well as the shop had to remain closed most of the time because of lockdown,” said Kinley Wangmo.
Kinley Wangmo’s brother Kuenga Namgay also followed suit. They are from Thimphu.
“As adults, we could somehow put up with the restrictions. But it was challenging for the children. They didn’t want to stay indoors after spending almost two months in lockdown. I used to work in the tourism sector. But after the pandemic, I started a business in the town but now even that is closed because of the lockdown. But I have to continue to pay the rent,” he said.
Om, another Phuentshogling resident came to Thimphu. She said: “A lot of people visit the shop and it was getting riskier for us elderly people and the children. Moreover, it was suffocating. We couldn’t come out of the house and had to stay inside and the heat was unbearable”.
The capital city gave them some much-needed respite. Besides the unbearable lockdown and the fear of catching the virus, concern over children’s education is also what forced them to move out.
“Teachers were doing a good job with online teaching. But it is not as effective as classroom learning. Children aren’t attentive while learning online. And with limited knowledge, it was difficult for us to guide them properly. Our children have been learning online the entire academic session last year. So we moved to Thimphu thinking it is going to affect their education badly if the situation doesn’t improve this year as well,” said Kinley Wangmo.
Another Phuentshogling resident Kezang Thinley said: “My daughter is studying in class II in Phuentshogling Middle Secondary school. It was difficult for her to learn online. So I came to drop my daughter here in Thimphu. Around 400 people were coming towards Thimphu on that day. Right now it is midterm break and we haven’t been to schools to seek admission. So I am worried if my daughter will get admission in schools here in the capital”.
Between April and July this year, about 3,000 people moved out of Phuentshogling. And around 600 are currently in quarantine in the town.
With the second round of COVID-19 vaccination in full swing from Wednesday in Phuentshogling, the residents are hopeful of returning to the town soon.
“Since we run a business in Phuentshogling which is our only source of income we cannot give up on that. With the second dose of the COVID vaccine, we are hoping things will get better soon. So I am planning to leave the children here with my parents and go back,” said Kinley Wangmo.
Until the situation improves, more residents might relocate to other districts.
Phub Gyem/ Karma Wangdi
Edited by Tandin Phuntsho
