Residents of southern dzongkhags are expecting the government to lift the 7-day home quarantine while travelling to low-risk areas. They say as cases are being detected from everywhere, considering only the southern belt as a high-risk does not make sense.
Beginning this week, as a part of phase-wise relaxation, the government lifted driver switching stations between high-risk and low-risk areas across the country. The relaxation has come as a relief to the drivers ferrying goods.
“After the driver switching station was lifted, things have become convenient for us. We can now come directly to Phuentshogling, load our vehicles and go up on the same day or the next day without having to undergo quarantine,” said Bhopal Singh Kharka, a driver in Sorchen.
With a 14-day validity antigen test, drivers ferrying essentials can move around freely. According to the residents of the southern belt, it is high time to lift the 7-day quarantine for the public too.
“Everyone gets mingled here. If the government could also lift the 7-day home quarantine for the public, we will be happy,” said Sonam Tshering, in Phuentshogling.
They say, looking at the number of cases in Thimphu, Phuentshogling and Thimphu are almost the same in terms of risk of virus infection. Residents also say that while people from Thimphu are allowed to travel with a negative antigen report, residents of the southern belt have to undergo 7-day home quarantine before travelling.
“People can come down freely but we aren’t allowed to do that. We are not happy with that. As a businessman, it will benefit us immensely if people are now allowed to travel freely between high and low-risk areas. Our business was badly affected for the past two years,” said Tashi Tobgay, a shopkeeper in Phuentshogling.
Similarly, Sonam Jamtsho, from Samdrup Jongkhar said that allowing travellers with an RT-PCR test would solve their inconvenience.“A week-long quarantine hampers our plan when we have to travel for important work. It is never convenient,” he added.
“The virus has spread everywhere. It is not just Samdrup Jongkhar, Phuentshogling, Gelephu and Samtse, which are high-risk areas. We shall remain grateful to the government if the 7-day quarantine is lifted too,” added Cheten Chedrup, also from Samdrup Jongkhar.
“Southern region is considered as a high-risk area. Now, if we are to travel to a low-risk area, we have to be under quarantine. I feel it’s not necessary to stay in quarantine now. We should be allowed to travel after an RT PCR test,” said Sonam Dorji, in Gelephu.
They also said that the 7-day quarantine does not make sense when the international travellers will have to stay in quarantine for only five days starting next week.
According to a member of the technical advisory group, the relaxations for international travellers are yet to be implemented. He also said that once implemented, there will be some relaxation for domestic travellers too.
Bureau Report from Southern Districts
Edited by Sonam
