The residents of Bajo town in Wangdue Phodrang are anxious as the district continues to report increasing COVID cases from the community despite the COVID restrictions. They now want the COVID-19 Task Force to share the way forward. Wangdue Phodrang recorded more than 500 community cases to date since January 16.
Bajo town which is identified as a Red Zone has remained closed for more than a month now.
Following the mass testing, the Task Force started relaxations and initiated a zoning system on Monday. An individual from each household is allowed to go out for essential shopping. However, the residents are worried that the restrictions may prolong further.
“We have many shopkeepers and a lot of people employed by the business community in Bajo town,” said Prakash Khati, a resident.
“It’s more than a month in lockdown. So, we want to ask the Task Force’s plans about the way forward. The community continues to see increasing cases which are confusing the public,” said Budha Bir Rai.
“We are worried about how to pay the house rent if the lockdown prolongs. Likewise, I am worried about whether I will be able to pay the income tax. We are being reminded about it through social media that we will be fined if we fail to pay it within the due date,” said Phuensum Namgay.
“Our savings are exhausting now. Especially, people working in the private sector are suffering to pay their house rent. Moreover, schools will resume soon and we are worried about how to teach our children to schools,” said Dilip Upreti.
Sources say lack of enough security personnel, the public not complying with health protocols and the detection of new cases through mass screening could have added to the increasing positive cases. Most of the cases are now found in the villages.
The Task Force said although a large number of cases from the community is worrisome, they are monitoring and evaluating the pattern of the outbreak and severity of the disease. The Task Force added that testing and other restriction measures will be put in place to break the chain of transmission.
The task force said they are relaxing the restrictions in the areas depending on the outbreak pattern.
Wangdue Phodrang recorded more than 1,200 COVID cases since the first community case detected from the Punatsangchhu-I hydropower project on January 16. There are over 600 active cases in the district as of today.
Changa Dorji, Wangdue Phodrang
Edited by Phub Gyem
