The Health Emergency Management Committee, which is the highest decision-making body during an emergency, has approved the proposal to build an additional structure for Coronavirus (COVID-19) which will be built adjacent to the emergency ward of the JDWNRH for the stabilisation of ambulatory patient before lab confirmation.
This is being done in preparation to combat the virus if in case there is an outbreak in the country. Going by the report from the Health Ministry, 23 people in Bhutan were suspected of the COVID-19 so far. However, all test results were negative.
Globally over 80,000 people have been affected by the COVID-19, and 132 confirmed cases have been reported in the countries which have direct flight links with Bhutan.
Of the 132 cases, 57 cases in India, Nepal And Singapore are reported to have recovered.
And enhancing the National Contingency Plans and preparedness against the outbreak of the virus, 28 doctors and 400 plus health care workers were trained in Hospitals across 12 Point of Entries into the country including Samrang BHU. On 25th of this month, over 52,000 people were screened on the point of entries.
Beds and other amenities for quarantine and isolation rooms were also supplied at Paro Airport. Quarantine places have been identified.
The Press release from the Health Ministry shows that 33 countries are affected by the COVID-19 outside China with almost 2500 confirmed cases.
Samten Dolkar
