Phuentshogling has once again turned into a COVID hotspot. The town detected nearly 1,500 cases of COVID-19 since January 6. With cases coming up from the community every day, residents are fearing another long lockdown as the memories of the last lockdown are still fresh in their minds. However, they are hopeful that the mass screening initiated in the town today will show them the way forward.
Battered by COVID restrictions and lockdowns, Phuentshogling town today is a far cry from the old commercial hub. The town completed an extended 10-day total lockdown on Tuesday. And everyone is still indoors waiting for the mass screening.
Health officials and Desuups are collecting samples from Pasakha and nearby areas today. While an individual each from a household is being tested today, two individuals from each household will be tested in the core town and high-risk areas.
The teams will continue the sample collection in the Megazone-I from tomorrow. Megazone-I includes Amochhu, Pipaldara, Damdara and Kabreytar areas. As the lockdown in the thromde prolongs, residents are hoping for a positive outcome from the mass screening.
“The virus has infected most of the settlements here and we see many red zones too. The mass screening today has fulfilled our wishes to get tested. We are hoping for a better outcome from this mass screening,” said Penjor, in Pasakha.
“We expected mass screening here. We are happy that it started today. I wish everyone tests negative for the virus,” added another resident of Pasakha.
“I am just hoping everyone tests negative. We expected the mass screening soon. We happily came forward as it started today. The situation worries us. I have a baby to feed. I feel that if every one of us cooperates, we can overcome this,” said Nir Kumari, also in Pasakha.
Nearly 7,500 households will be tested during the four-day mass screening. According to a notification from the Southern COVID-19 Task Force, the mass testing will determine the presence of residual cases of COVID-19 in the community and facilitate in taking the right decision for phase-wise re-opening Phuentsholing after February 19.
Sonam Penjor, Phuentshogling
Edited by Sonam
