The number of people visiting the flu clinics in Thimphu has reduced by nearly 40 per cent compared to the last three weeks. The Health Ministry attributed the decrease to the mass screening carried out during the lockdown.
The flu clinics recorded an increasing number of people visiting the clinics during the lockdown. A clinic received about 400 people daily.
But today, they receive less than 100 people in a day.
The Chief Program Officer of Health Ministry, Rixin Jamtsho said, “the number of people visiting flu clinic decreased drastically because the ministry carried out many interventions to prevent the spread of the virus. Many tests were carried out including the testing for outbound travellers. This could also mean a decrease in people getting flu.”
However, he said people should not be complacent.
“Considering the mode of transmission and few cases of exceptional viral behaviour, everyone with flu-like symptoms should visit the flu clinics to get tested, to rule out all possible chances of outbreak and transmission,” he added.
Since the lockdown, more than 40,000 people visited the flu clinics across the country. In Thimphu, over 10,000 people availed themselves of the service.
Kinley Dem
